Bundesliga soccer team 1. FC Union Berlin has parted ways with coach Nenad Bjelica after just a few months in office. The 52-year-old Croatian was released after the recent 3-4 defeat against direct relegation rivals VfL Bochum, as the club announced. For the Berliners, it is the second coaching separation of the current season.
More on the topic: Bundesliga
Niclas Füllkrug: The time of his life
FC Bayern Munich: Five coaching ideas for FC Bayern
In the last two games of the season and a possible relegation, interim coach Marco Grote is now supposed to protect the Berliners from relegation to the 2nd league. Together with assistant coach Marie-Louise Eta and Sebastian Bönig as assistant coach, the 51-year-old will first prepare the team for the upcoming away game against 1. FC Köln.
“In the fight to stay in the Bundesliga, we need the strength of the entire club and of course that of our team,” said club president Dirk Zingler. “We trust Marco Grote and his team to lead our players back to their performance limits in order to make the remaining games successful until the end of the season.” Grote had already managed the team on an interim basis after parting ways with Urs Fischer.
Bjelica was only hired in November
“I would like to thank Nenad Bjelica and his team for the work they have done,” said Zingler. They managed to “stabilize the team in an extremely difficult situation, with the result that we can stay in the league on our own.”
After Fischer was fired in November, Union surprisingly introduced Bjelica as his successor. The former professional footballer, who played in the Bundesliga for 1. FC Kaiserslautern, had little coaching experience outside of his Croatian homeland. Under him, the Berliners initially stabilized themselves in the relegation battle.
The coach caused a stir in January with his outburst against Leroy Sané from FC Bayern. The DFB sports court banned him for three games. Even back then, Union had discussed an early separation.
Bundesliga soccer team 1. FC Union Berlin has parted ways with coach Nenad Bjelica after just a few months in office. The 52-year-old Croatian was released after the recent 3-4 defeat against direct relegation rivals VfL Bochum, as the club announced. For the Berliners, it is the second coaching separation of the current season.
In the last two games of the season and a possible relegation, interim coach Marco Grote is now supposed to protect the Berliners from relegation to the 2nd league. Together with assistant coach Marie-Louise Eta and Sebastian Bönig as assistant coach, the 51-year-old will first prepare the team for the upcoming away game against 1. FC Köln.
