Fun Facts
The Christmas singing: this is a Union classic
The Christmas singing: this is a Union classic that has since been copied by many other clubs.
that has since been copied by many other clubs. Since 2003 semi-legally and since 2005 officially, close to 30,000 people gather shortly before Christmas in the Alte Försterei for the traditional carol singing, complete with mulled wine. A pastor tells the Christmas story, the choir of Emmy-Noether-Gymnasium sets the tone, and a small brass ensemble provides festive colour.
Songbook and candle are free; a small donation for the youth section is always welcome.
Union Berlin’s first European goalscorer was Sreto Ristić:
Union Berlin’s first European goalscorer was Sreto Ristić: the former Stuttgart player scored in the 1–1 away draw at FC Haka in Finland on 20 September 2001.
the former Stuttgart player scored in the 1–1 away draw at FC Haka in Finland on 20 September 2001. That paid off twice because he had a goals bonus in his contract. In the return leg, Božidar Đurković, Ferdinand Chifon and Hristo Koilow scored for Union. Those remain the club’s last European goals to date.
The biggest real football stadium in Berlin: the
The biggest real football stadium in Berlin: the Alte Försterei, fully rebuilt between 2008/09 and 2012/13, with capacity of 22,012, is Berlin’s large...
Alte Försterei, fully rebuilt between 2008/09 and 2012/13, with capacity of 22,012, is Berlin’s largest dedicated football stadium as of December 2019.
They called them Sebastian: strikers Sebastian Andersson and
They called them Sebastian: strikers Sebastian Andersson and Sebastian Polter, with twelve and nine goals respectively, were the most successful score...
Sebastian Polter, with twelve and nine goals respectively, were the most successful scorers in the 2018/19 promotion season.
Top goalkeeper: Rafał Gikiewicz, Union’s number one in
Top goalkeeper: Rafał Gikiewicz, Union’s number one in 2018/19, was rated the best keeper in the second Bundesliga by Kicker with an average mark of 2...
2018/19, was rated the best keeper in the second Bundesliga by Kicker with an average mark of 2.68.
Record goalscorers: German-Algerian Karim Benyamina, with 87...
Record goalscorers: German-Algerian Karim Benyamina, with 87 competitive goals in 213 appearances, is Union’s most successful scorer.
Record goalscorers: German-Algerian Karim Benyamina, with 87 competitive goals in 213 appearances, is Union’s most successful scorer. He is followed by Torsten “Tusche” Mattuschka with 70 goals in 299 matches and Brazilian striker Daniel “Texas” Teixeira with 67 goals in only 78 games.
Attendance record: two Berlin derbies against Hertha with
Attendance record: two Berlin derbies against Hertha with more than 74,000 spectators stood as Union’s record for a league match until the Bundesliga ...
more than 74,000 spectators stood as Union’s record for a league match until the Bundesliga visit to Bayern on 26 October 2019 drew 75,000.
Record transfer: according to Transfermarkt, Union’s most ex...
Record transfer: according to Transfermarkt, Union’s most expensive outgoing transfer by December 2019 was Bobby Wood, for whom HSV paid four million euros in 2016.
Record transfer: according to Transfermarkt, Union’s most expensive outgoing transfer by December 2019 was Bobby Wood, for whom HSV paid four million euros in 2016. In Köpenick, that was still serious money.
Texas is the oldest: the oldest Union professional
Texas is the oldest: the oldest Union professional ever to appear in a competitive game is Daniel Teixeira.
ever to appear in a competitive game is Daniel Teixeira. When he played in the 2–3 defeat at Werder Bremen II on 2 June 2007, he was 39 years, one month and 13 days old.
The youngest Unioner was Detlef Helms in 1977:
The youngest Unioner was Detlef Helms in 1977: he played against Karl-Marx-Stadt at 16 years and four months.
he played against Karl-Marx-Stadt at 16 years and four months. Frank Melzer was the second youngest.
Frank Pagelsdorf: as of December 2019, the coach
Frank Pagelsdorf: as of December 2019, the coach with the best points-per-game average in Union history was still Frank Pagelsdorf, who collected the ...
with the best points-per-game average in Union history was still Frank Pagelsdorf, who collected the equivalent of 2.56 points per match between 1992 and 1994.
First Pastor, then the football god: in GDR
First Pastor, then the football god: in GDR times, Frank Pastor of Hallescher FC was the personified nightmare of the Eisernen, scoring twelve goals in only sixteen games against Union.
times, Frank Pastor of Hallescher FC was the personified nightmare of the Eisernen, scoring twelve goals in only sixteen games against Union. In the second Bundesliga, the role later belonged to Alexander “football god” Meier, who scored nine in just five matches between 2002 and 2019.
By the way: Union spent ten uninterrupted years
By the way: Union spent ten uninterrupted years in the second Bundesliga before finally winning promotion in 2019, making them the longest-serving sec...
in the second Bundesliga before finally winning promotion in 2019, making them the longest-serving second-division side at the moment of promotion – a kind of eastern successor to Mainz 05.
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Three European competitions in three consecutive seasons: Conference League, Europa League, Champions League.
Three European competitions in three consecutive seasons: Co...
Three European competitions in three consecutive seasons: Conference League, Europa League, Champions League.
Three European competitions in three consecutive seasons: Conference League, Europa League, Champions League. Before Union, no other promoted Bundesliga side had managed that.
The Alte Forsterei: the only stadium in German
The Alte Forsterei: the only stadium in German professional football on which the fans themselves laid hands.
professional football on which the fans themselves laid hands. In 2008/09, 2,300 volunteers helped carry out the rebuild.
Words of Wisdom — Update
Words of Wisdom — Update...
“We are Union. We do it our way.”
“We are Union.
Dirk Zingler on the “Union way.”
“There are no shortcuts. You have to take
“There are no shortcuts.
every step.” — Urs Fischer on Union’s rise into the Champions League.