1. FC Union Berlin

Founding and Early Years

1. FC Union Berlin was founded on 20 January 1966 during the reorganisation of East German football, with a lineage tracing back through several successive identities of the Oberschöneweide club since 1950. A popular club of the working-class Köpenick district, it became a symbol of quiet defiance under Communist rule, unlike its great rival Dynamo Berlin, backed by the Stasi.

Club Evolution

Nicknamed "Die Eisernen" (The Iron Ones), the club play at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, their home since 1920, one of the rare German stadiums without a corporate naming sponsor. The club is known for its unique traditions, including fans historically helping to maintain the pitch and a large annual Christmas carol-singing gathering at the stadium.

Great Managers

Urs Fischer (2018-2025) is by far the club's most significant manager: he secured Bundesliga promotion in 2019 via the playoffs, then steadily improved the team's league position up to a historic 4th-place finish in 2022-23, bringing their first-ever Champions League qualification.

Iconic Players

Without a history of legendary individual stars in the mould of traditional clubs, Union Berlin draws its identity from its fan culture rather than star names. Sheraldo Becker and Robert Andrich are among the notable figures of the club's modern era.

Major Achievements

1. FC Union Berlin have never won the Bundesliga or the DFB-Pokal, but lifted the East German Cup (FDGB-Pokal) in 1968 and played their first Champions League campaign in 2023-24, the peak of their modern rise.

The Club Today

Led by Mauro Lustrinelli and chaired by Dirk Zingler since 2004, 1. FC Union Berlin finished 11th in the Bundesliga in 2025-26, their 7th consecutive top-flight season, confirming an unprecedented stability in their history.