Former captain Julian Schuster to succeed Christian Streich as Freiburg coach
Freiburg have announced that former captain Julian Schuster will take charge of the first team this summer, replacing outgoing boss Christian Streich.
Since hanging up his boots in 2018, 38-year-old Schuster has remained a key figure at the club, and will move into the dugout from his current role as Freiburg's coordinator between the academy, reserves and first team.
He will replace Streich at the end of the current campaign after the legendary 58-year-old announced earlier this week that this season will be his last, bringing down the curtain on his 12-year stint in charge of the first team in the Black Forest.
"Over the past few weeks, we have intensively scrutinised several internal and external candidates for the successor to Christian Streich. At the end of this process, we decided with great conviction in favour of working with Julian Schuster. His expertise, his personality and his comprehensive identification with the philosophy and values of SC Freiburg were decisive criteria for us," said managing director Jochen Saier of the appointment.
He added: "Over the past six years, he has done valuable work with our young players as assistant and liaison coach and knows the inner workings of the club. Following Christian's decision to step down, we are convinced that we have found the right solution with the appointment of Julian Schuster in order to continue on the path we have taken with new impetus and energy."
Schuster represented Freiburg as a player 242 times, and played under Streich for seven seasons, even being given the armband by his now predecessor as head coach from 2012 until his retirement in 2018.
Under Streich, who joined the club as a youth coach in 1995, Freiburg have qualified for Europe on four occasions and came within a penalty shoot-out of winning the DFB Cup for the first time in their history in 2021/22. The outgoing boss also pulled on the Freiburg shirt as a player, and the club will now hope their internal succession plan leads to another fruitful period, this time under their former skipper.
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"The coaching position at Freiburg is both an issue close to my heart and a challenge at the same time. I am aware of the task and approach it with full conviction, but also with humility and respect," said Schuster, who completed his UEFA Pro Licence this year.
"Unity, passion and solidarity with the city and the region - these values characterise Sport-Club for me. I'm looking forward to living and developing these values together with the team, the staff and the fans. I would like to thank those responsible for their trust, but also Christian Streich and all the SC coaches who have accompanied me to this point for their close and intensive collaboration."
Watch: Christian Streich - end of an era
Patrick Grollimund will also join the team as an assistant. The 43-year-old Swiss coach has previously been assistant for Germany's women's team and is currently deputy head of UEFA Pro Licence training at the German Football Association.
As is now normal at Freiburg, the club have not announced the length of their new coach's contract. Schuster will be unveiled as head coach ahead of the new season.
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