Sweaty Goal Everything about Football
| Club Name: | Union Berlin (1. Fußballclub Union Berlin e. V.) |
| Founded: | 20 January 1966 – (Preceded by FC Olympia Oberschöneweide, founded 1906) |
| Home Ground: | Stadion An der Alten Försterei |
| Capacity: | 22,012 |
| League: | Bundesliga |
| President: | Dirk Zingler |
| Manager: | Urs Fischer |
FC Union Berlin Foundation and Split
The name 1. FC Union Berlin was used by two football clubs that shared a common origin as FC Olympia Oberschöneweide, founded in 1906. They were relegated in 1935 and returned to first-division play in 1936 after only one season’s absence. After World War II, occupying Allied authorities ordered the dissolution of all organizations in Germany, including sports and football associations. However, escalating Cold War tensions led Soviet authorities to refuse the team permission to travel to take part. Two Union teams then emerged as most players and coaches fled to the west to form Sport-Club Union 06 Berlin.
Restart
FC Union Berlin was founded on June 20, 1966, following a merger of two Berlin-based clubs, SC Union 06 Berlin and SG Oberschöneweide. The newly formed club started playing in the third tier of German football, the Amateurliga Berlin. In 1968, a group of Union Berlin supporters founded a new club, 1. FC Union Berlin (West), which started playing in the lower divisions of German football.
2. Bundesliga
The club’s fortunes changed in the 1990s when it gained promotion to the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of German football. In the 2000s, it established itself as a strong team in the 2. Bundesliga, finishing in the top half of the table several times.
FC Union Berlin in Bundesliga
In 2019, 1. FC Union Berlin achieved a historic promotion to the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, for the first time in the club’s history. The team finished the season in a respectable 11th place, defying the odds and proving their mettle against some of the best teams in the country.
Fan Involvement
FC Union Berlin is not just a football club but also a socially responsible organization. The club’s fans are known for their active involvement in blood donation drives. The initiative, called “Weiser Rabe” (Wise Raven), has become an integral part of the club’s identity and a symbol of its commitment to social causes.
They have always had a strong connection to its fans. The club’s supporters are known for their passionate and vocal support, both at home and away matches. The fans’ involvement in the club’s operations is also noteworthy. The club’s stadium, the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, was renovated by the fans themselves, who volunteered their time and resources to build and maintain the stadium.
In conclusion, 1. FC Union Berlin is a football club with a rich history and a unique story. From dissolution to restarting, from the lower divisions to the top tier of German football, the club has always maintained a strong connection to its fans.
