For the Haters
Heaviest competitive defeat: 1. FC Union Berlin's heaviest competitive defeat after German reunification in 1990 came on October 7, 2002 in the 2. Bundesliga — 0-7 at 1. FC Köln.
2-8 in Zwickau: A 2-8 from Union's perspective occurred in the 2. Bundesliga promotion round in 1992 at old DDR-Oberliga rivals FSV Zwickau.
0-5 against Werder Bremen: In the DFB-Pokal, eventual finalists Werder Bremen humiliated "Die Eisernen" 5-0 at the Alte Försterei on August 2, 2009.
Beatings from the Stasi club: Since the "Eisernen" were promoted in 1966, BFC Dynamo regularly dished out beatings to the Köpenickers in the DDR-Oberliga. In 1979/80, the Dynamos hammered Union 6-0; in 1986/87, even 8-1. In the FDGB-Pokal round of 16 in 1978/79, Union were thrashed both in the first leg (1-8) and the second leg (1-7).
The Unpromoteables: Union Berlin in the 2. Bundesliga promotion round — an unsolvable riddle! From 1992 onwards, the Unionists regularly missed out on promotion to Germany's "football basement." In 1992, it was five defeats in six matches against VfL Wolfsburg, FC Berlin (as BFC was temporarily named) and FSV Zwickau, with a goal difference of minus 15. In 1993, the Köpenickers were denied their second-division licence. Things turned dramatic in the summer of 2000. In a penalty shootout thriller in the relegation second leg at VfL Osnabrück (7-8) and the subsequent three-way playoff with LR Ahlen and SC Pfullendorf, the dream of the 2. Bundesliga remained unfulfilled once again.
The painful premiere: Finally Bundesliga, finally with Union Berlin! The euphoria in Berlin on August 19, 2019 knew almost no bounds — but after a good half hour, it was already over. Opponents RB Leipzig showed Union how the Bundesliga works with two early goals, ultimately winning 4-0. There are certainly better premieres…
From a Union-hater perspective, the most enjoyable season was 2003/04 in the 2. Bundesliga. Even with coaching legend Aleksandar Ristic, who took over from Mirko Votava at the end of March, Union took a proper beating — and set several negative records.
Worst finishing position: 17th place in the 2003/04 2. Bundesliga season is the worst final result for 1. FC Union Berlin in either the 1st or 2nd Bundesliga.
Fewest points: In 2003/04, the Unionists collected just 33 points in the 2. Bundesliga. They fared even worse after reunification only outside the 2. Bundesliga — 27 points in the 2004/05 Regionalliga NORD season. Union were thus relegated for the second consecutive time.