Union Berline names Nenad Bjelica as new coach

 

BERLIN – Former Dinamo Zagreb boss Nenad Bjelica is the new Union Berlin coach, the Bundesliga club said on Sunday.

The Croatian coach will replace long-serving Urs Fischer, who was dismissed earlier this month after nine straight league defeats. Bjelica’s most recent job was at Turkey’s first division club Trabzonspor.

“In Nenad Bjelica, we have gained an experienced coach who has worked successfully in various countries. He has a clear idea of how he wants to lead the team and what kind of football they should play,” Union president Dirk Zingler said.

Bjelica said: “My task is to lead the team out of a difficult phase and bring out its strengths again. I’m looking forward to this challenge. I want to see well-organized, active and dominant football, and players who are prepared to take on responsibility.”

The coach is expected to take charge of the team already for the Champions League match against Braga on Wednesday, which is likely to decide whether Union finish third and reach the Europa League.

Interim coach Marco Grote and Marie-Louise Eta, the men’s Bundesliga’s first ever female assistant coach, were on the bench for the 1-1 home draw against FC Augsburg on Saturday. Union sit second-bottom.

“I would also like to thank Marco Grote, who has worked very well with the team in recent days and is now returning to the under-19s,” Union football director Oliver Ruhnert said.

Eta will remain assistant coach of the men’s team until Sebastian Bönig returns. He recently asked for time off for personal reasons.

On Saturday, the Kicker sports magazine reported that former Spain and Real Madrid striker Raúl was a hot candidate take the job.

He knows the Bundesliga from his time at Schalke (2010-12) and is currently coach of Madrid’s Under-23 team. He was linked with the coaching job at Schalke earlier in the year.

Former centre-back Bjelica has never coached in the Bundesliga, but played in the league for Kaiseslautern from 2001 to 2004 and reached the UEFA Cup semi-finals with the German team.