Managing director Oliver Ruhnert is one of the architects of the success of the surprise club Union Berlin.
Photo: imago/Matthias Koch
Even if 1. FC Union Berlin did not get more than a draw at home against FC Augsburg on the 14th match day, they are still basking in the glory of second place in the Bundesliga. Augsburg showed counter-strength in Berlin, which is also known to be one of the virtues of the Union.
This Sunday we’re going to Freiburg. Streich’s Breisgauer villains are a similar upstart to the FCU, who are constantly scratching the paintwork of the old Bundesliga hares and have their sights set on the Champions League. Of course, people in Berlin and Freiburg officially resist this opportunity, but clattering, noise, small talk and yelling are part of the business and have nothing to do with the real plans of the Bundesliga clubs. Union is now playing in the 1st Bundesliga for the third year and has made a huge leap forward during this time. The club has arrived long ago and, with its style of play, has shown Dortmund, among other things, how unreachably high the grapes are in Köpenick when a listless group of violinists thinks they can just scoop up the dots. Union has an uncanny stability in action; every player knows where to stand and is ready to work.
The Fischer-Ruhnert combine is responsible for this service. Head coach Urs Fischer and Managing Director Sport Oliver Ruhnert are the godfathers of success. Before Union, Ruhnert was head of youth work at Schalke for a long time and was brought to Union as chief scout in 2017. A year later, he lured Urs Fischer from FC Zurich to Union, although he had been on the list at Union for some time, as the Köpenick lark whispers. A year later, Union was promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time and the two men have led Union to the European Cup for the last two years, although Union has lost key players to big-headed clubs every year. It’s still a football sensation. As before, the numerous old and new Union fans rub their eyes every day when looking at the table. Hertha BSC still curses the day when the two magicians took over the scepter at Union.
Yes, the Fischer-Ruhnert combine is known for doing the unusual. In his spare time, Fischer is an avid fly fisherman. Ruhnert acts as a referee in the district league and is active for the left party in the city council of Iserlohn. Local politics in particular is an unusual hobby for a football manager, especially when he has lost his heart to the Left Party in Sauerland.
Last week, with the active help of Helge Meves, Ruhnert published the book »The Secret of His Success. From Sauerland via Schalke to Union« to explain Comet Ruhnert to interested readers. Even if the title is a bit strange, the book fans out the path from little Olli as a moderately talented footballer to the successful managing director of sports at Union. It was a bit of a journey until then, which thanks to a few strange coincidences and a lot of love for football can be described as happy.
The secret Ruhnert story is supported by interviews with former and current companions, half of which could have been omitted because their statements are often repeated. Why Sahra Wagenknecht, for example, comes up with an extraordinarily stupid quote (“In sport, you don’t get through as well with cheating or favors as in politics, perhaps”) remains a secret at first, but can be questioned on November 15 at the book premiere.
Ruhnert himself intersperses short episodes of his career every few paragraphs, which unfortunately are a bit short. Nevertheless, the half-thin book makes a valuable first step towards Oliver Ruhnert research, which deserves to be appreciated.
Unfortunately, because of the World Cup in Qatar, which is rightly unloved, all Union players have to wait until January 21, 2023 for the Union game after next. Then the eleven will play Hoffenheim at home and, with luck and skill, will end up at least in the middle of the table at the end of the season. Recently, the club wobbled a little, but you should treat it with indulgence because of the triple burden of the European Cup, DFB Cup and Bundesliga.
Union has outgrown the Bundesliga baby age and can definitely show teeth. Where the path leads in the long term also depends on the further work of the Fischer-Ruhnert combine. Coach Fischer recently signed a new contract. But what are contracts worth in the Bundesliga circus? Even after this season, Union will lose the best players again. Maybe that’s the special challenge for Fischer and Ruhnert, to show the competition again next year what smart little fellows the two of them are?
At Christmas time, the fans can sing about the latest feats in the An der Alten Försterei stadium. The Christmas caroling popular with the Union people takes its toll.
Oliver Ruhnert: The secret of his success. From Sauerland to Schalke to Union. Verlag Neues Leben, 192 p., born, with photos, €20.
