Union Berlin have turned to their former forward and captain Steffen Baumgart to lead the club into the New Year following the dismissal of Bo Svensson.

Most recently in charge at second tier Hamburg - where he oversaw 27 games before being relieved of his duties in November - Baumgart arrives in Köpenick with Union sitting in 12th place in the Bundesliga standings. 

“We chose Steffen Baumgart because we are convinced that he is the right type of coach for us. His way of leading a team, developing players and challenging them was an important aspect of our decision," Union’s director of men’s professional football, Horst Heldt, explained. "In addition, he has Bundesliga experience and knows Union inside out."

Union's new man in the dugout said, "I'm very much looking forward to returning to the Bundesliga and to Union. It's certainly an advantage to know the club and many people here well. We don't have much time to prepare and will work intensively with the players to be prepared for the tasks ahead of us.”

Baumgart is returning to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. - IMAGO/Michael Taeger

A former striker, Baumgart scored 22 times in 68 appearances for Union between 2002 and 2004 while he also featured for Hansa Rostock and Wolfsburg - among others - in a playing career that spanned over 20 years.

His coaching career took off with Paderborn in 2017 after he led the North Rhine-Westphalia-based side to back-to-back promotions that took them into the Bundesliga. 

Baumgart later took Cologne to a seventh-place, top-flight finish and helped the Billy-Goats to qualify for the UEFA Conference League during his two-and-a-half years in charge at the RheinEnergieStadion. 

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Winless in their last eight Bundesliga games, Union will be hoping Baumgart can inspire an immediate lift when the capital club visit Heidenheim on 11 January.    

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1. FC Union Berlin

An der Alten Försterei