FC Union Berlin is starting its preparations for the 2024/25 season with a new sporting management. Today, Wednesday, June 26, Horst Heldt, Managing Director of Men’s Professional Football, and head coach Bo Svensson were officially introduced by Union President Dirk Zingler at the Alte Försterei.
“At the start of our sixth Bundesliga year, I would like to warmly welcome Horst Heldt and Bo Svensson to the Alte Försterei. I am delighted that they decided to come to Union early on, so that we had planning security. They both know that our goal is to inspire people and, of course, to keep Union in the Bundesliga. They are prepared for this and now it is time to put it into practice. I wish them both a lot of joy and, of course, much success,” said Union President Dirk Zingler at the presentation of the new sports management for men’s professional football.
“The last few weeks have been marked by intensive discussions with the executive committee and with Oliver Ruhnert. I am delighted that things are now officially getting started, as we have exciting and challenging weeks ahead of us. Our aim is to quickly push ahead with squad planning for the coming season in order to give the team and the new coaching team led by Bo Svensson as much time as possible to work together on the pitch,” explained Horst Heldt during the presentation.
“I am a coach and I love working with the players on the pitch. After a break of several months, I am absolutely ready to get started again and can hardly wait. It was important to me that the coaching team was complete at the start, and we managed that. From Monday, we will be working with the team so that we can start the new season well prepared,” said Bo Svensson.
The coaching team
In addition to head coach Bo Svensson, there are other new additions to the coaching staff of the men’s professional team:
Babak Keyhanfar – Assistant Coach
As he did with the Mainz youth team and later with the pros, as well as with FC Liefering, Bo Svensson’s long-time assistant coach Babak Keyhanfar is following his mentor and is also taking on the task in Köpenick with him. The 39-year-old holds a UEFA B license and has now played 241 games as the coach’s right-hand man, 157 under Svensson’s leadership. From 2014 to 2016, the Mainz native was also head coach himself and was responsible for the U19s and the pros of SV Gonsenheim in the Rhineland-Palatinate/Saar Oberliga.
Kristoffer Wichmann – Assistant Coach
In addition to the expertise of Babak Keyhanfar, Bo Svensson also relies on the advice of UEFA Pro license holder Kristoffer Wichmann. For the 43-year-old Dane, this is his first job as an assistant coach. Most recently, he was head coach at Kolding IF in Denmark’s second division and finished the season as reigning third division champions in a strong fifth place. It is also noteworthy that Wichmann took a break from his playing career in November 2018 to help out as a coach at his then club, Hellerup IK.
Tijan Nije – Match Analyst
Tijan Nije, another long-time employee of Bo Svensson, is following the call to Berlin. Both have already worked together in Mainz, initially in the youth sector and later in the coaching team of the professional team.
Also on board are:
Goalkeeper coach Michael Gspurning (currently with the Austrian national team at the EURO)
Athletic trainer Martin Krüger
Rehabilitation trainer Johannes Thienel
On Monday, July 1st, the preparation of the men’s professional team of 1. FC Union Berlin begins with performance tests. The team’s first joint training session is scheduled for Wednesday, July 3rd at 10 a.m. on the training ground at the Alte Försterei.
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