Following a historic 2025/26 campaign that saw Freiburg reach their first-ever European final, Julian Schuster’s side enter the new season with renewed ambition and a significantly reshaped squad. The departures of breakout star Johan Manzambi to Aston Villa and goalkeeper Noah Atubolu to Eintracht Frankfurt forced the club into decisive transfer market action, with sporting director Klemens Hartenbach overseeing a record-breaking summer of spending exceeding €40 million. Early results suggest the transition has been seamless: Freiburg opened the Bundesliga season with three consecutive victories, scoring ten goals in the process — a new club record — before a hard-fought draw at Eintracht Frankfurt left them third in the table heading into the international break.
Technical Leadership & Coaching Profile
Manager: Julian Schuster
Schuster enters his third full season in charge having not merely preserved Christian Streich’s legacy but enhanced it. The 41-year-old guided Freiburg to the Europa League final in 2025/26, where they fell 3-0 to Aston Villa, while maintaining their consistent Bundesliga form with a seventh-place finish. His ability to integrate new signings and adapt his system to evolving personnel has drawn praise, and the early 2026/27 returns suggest continued progress.
Schuster’s tactical approach blends the pressing intensity and collective discipline characteristic of the Streich era with greater attacking ambition. The team’s ten goals in their opening three league matches — including a dominant 5-0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach — demonstrate an offensive evolution. His emphasis on mental preparation and emotional intensity was evident ahead of the Frankfurt trip, where he noted: “We’ve put a lot of emphasis on intensity this week. Those are exactly the emotions we need.”
Tactical Philosophy
Schuster’s preferred structure is a 4-2-3-1 that prioritises control through midfield and quick transitions into the attacking third. The double pivot of Maximilian Eggestein and Yannik Engelhardt provides both defensive screening and progressive passing, while the attacking line of Beste, Suzuki, and Grifo operates with fluid positional rotation.
Defensively, Freiburg maintain a compact block and look to win the ball back quickly, exploiting the pace of their wide forwards on the counter. Matthias Ginter anchors the back line with his experience and aerial dominance, while new goalkeeper Mio Backhaus has provided immediate stability behind a defence that kept five clean sheets in his 32 Bundesliga appearances for Werder Bremen last season.
Preferred Formations
4-2-3-1 (with 4-4-2 defensive shape out of possession).
Strategic Transfer Activity
Freiburg’s summer window represented a decisive response to key departures. The €43.5 million spent — a new club record and the first time the Sport-Club surpassed €40 million in a single window — reflects both ambition and the necessity of replacing Manzambi and Atubolu. The signings prioritised Bundesliga-ready quality over long-term projects, with Engelhardt and Backhaus immediately claiming starting roles.
Table A: Summer Major Transfer Influx
| Player | Position | Former Club | Fee Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mio Backhaus | Goalkeeper | Werder Bremen | ~€8m |
| Yannik Engelhardt | Defensive Midfielder | Como | €7m |
| Keisuke Goto | Striker | Anderlecht | ~€5m |
| Rihito Yamamoto | Midfielder | Sint-Truiden | ~€3m |
| Louey Ben Farhat | Attacker | Karlsruher SC | €7.5m (+ bonuses) |
The Ben Farhat signing, which beat out Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Salzburg for the highly-rated 20-year-old, was structured with the player remaining on loan at Karlsruhe for the 2026/27 campaign — with an option to bring him to Breisgau in winter, particularly valuable given potential Asian Cup absences for the Japanese contingent.
The First-Team Roster
Goalkeepers
Mio Backhaus (#1): The Germany U21 international has immediately established himself as Freiburg’s first-choice goalkeeper following his arrival from Werder Bremen. His calm distribution and command of the penalty area have provided stability, and his 32 Bundesliga appearances last season offered proof of top-flight readiness.
Florian Müller (#21): The experienced backup provides reliable coverage and competition in the goalkeeping department.
Jannik Huth (#24): The third-choice goalkeeper extended his contract in June 2026 and offers depth and professionalism within the squad.
Defenders
Matthias Ginter (#28): Freiburg’s undisputed defensive leader and one of the Bundesliga’s most complete centre-backs. His omission from Germany’s World Cup 2026 squad appeared to fuel his early-season form, with two goals in the Conference League play-off against Motherwell demonstrating his threat from set-pieces. Ginter coordinates the backline, distributes with composure, and remains the embodiment of Freiburg’s defensive identity.
Philipp Lienhart (#3): The Austrian centre-back provides serious competition and rotation alongside Ginter, his physicality and positioning offering a complementary profile. Lienhart featured prominently in the DFB-Pokal victory at Düsseldorf.
Max Rosenfelder (#37): The young centre-back has established himself in Schuster’s strongest lineups, his development accelerated by regular exposure alongside Ginter. His recent call-up to the senior Germany squad reflects his rapid progression.
Philipp Treu (#29): The right-back has started the season as first choice, his energy and delivery from wide areas suited to Schuster’s attacking system. His first senior Germany call-up represents a significant milestone.
Jordy Makengo (#33): The left-back operates as the mirror image of Treu, providing width and defensive diligence. His first DR Congo call-up for AFCON qualifiers underscores his growing reputation.
Christian Günter (#30): The veteran left-back and club icon remains a long-term absentee, his experience and leadership a significant loss during his rehabilitation.
Lukas Kübler (#17): The versatile defender offers cover across the back line, his reliability and professionalism valued within the squad.
Anthony Jung (#5): The experienced defender extended his contract in June 2026, providing depth and Bundesliga know-how.
Midfielders
Maximilian Eggestein (#8): The central midfielder has started the season in outstanding form, scoring in the 1-0 victory at Paderborn and adding another in the 5-0 demolition of Gladbach. His contract extension represents a significant coup, securing a player whose reading of the game and technical quality anchor Freiburg’s midfield.
Yannik Engelhardt (#16): The returning midfielder has immediately claimed a starting role following his €7 million arrival from Como. His two goals against Gladbach demonstrated the attacking output Hartenbach identified as underutilised during his loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach last season. Engelhardt’s familiarity with the club — having previously played 54 times for the reserve side under Schuster — has eased his integration.
Patrick Osterhage (#6): The midfielder provides competition and rotation in central areas, his tactical discipline suited to Schuster’s structured approach.
Rihito Yamamoto (#20): The Japanese midfielder arrived from Sint-Truiden with nearly 100 competitive appearances in Belgian football, offering technical quality and tactical intelligence in the pivot role.
Rouven Tarnutzer (#39): The young midfielder scored in pre-season and continues his development within the first-team environment.
Forwards
Igor Matanovic (#31): The striker has claimed the starting role up front, his physical profile and movement offering a focal point for Freiburg’s attacking play. The former Eintracht Frankfurt forward has settled quickly into Schuster’s system.
Yuito Suzuki (#14): The Japanese attacking midfielder has been entrusted with the creative role vacated by Manzambi, his technical quality and goal threat from central areas crucial to Freiburg’s attacking output. His brace in the Europa League quarter-final at Vigo last season demonstrated his capacity for decisive contributions on the big stage.
Vincenzo Grifo (#32): The club captain and set-piece specialist remains a vital creative force, though at 33 his minutes are being managed more carefully. His delivery from dead balls and ability to unlock defences in tight matches ensure his continued importance, even as an impact option.
Niklas Beste (#19): The winger provides pace and directness from wide areas, his set-piece delivery offering an additional attacking weapon.
Derry Scherhant (#7): The young forward has made a compelling case for increased minutes, registering three goal contributions in the Conference League and DFB-Pokal. His first Germany call-up reflects his impressive start to the campaign.
Lucas Höler (#9): The experienced forward offers a different profile in the attacking line, his work rate and link-up play providing tactical flexibility.
Keisuke Goto (#42): The 21-year-old Japanese striker arrived from Anderlecht with a recommendation of ten goals and five assists in 28 league appearances on loan at Sint-Truiden last season. He opened his Freiburg account against Motherwell in the Conference League play-off, demonstrating the finishing instincts that attracted the club’s interest.
Leadership Group & Squad Regulations
Club Captain: Vincenzo Grifo
The Italian-German winger wears the armband, his technical quality and set-piece mastery providing a reference point for the squad’s attacking identity. His experience of Freiburg’s rise from Bundesliga stability to European finalists offers invaluable perspective.
The Leadership Committee
Matthias Ginter serves as the primary on-field leader, his defensive organisation and standards-setting influence anchoring the back line. Maximilian Eggestein’s contract extension and consistent performances have elevated him to a senior voice in midfield, while Christian Günter’s presence behind the scenes remains important despite his injury absence.
Homegrown Quota Check
Freiburg continue to demonstrate faith in their academy pipeline, with Max Rosenfelder and Rouven Tarnutzer representing the latest graduates to establish themselves in the first-team environment. The club’s model of developing young players and integrating them alongside experienced signings remains a core principle, with Louey Ben Farhat’s loan-back arrangement at Karlsruhe illustrating the patient approach to talent development.
Financial & Contractual Health
Financial Balance Overview
Freiburg’s record-breaking summer expenditure of over €40 million represents a significant shift from their traditionally conservative approach, yet the club’s financial model remains sustainable. The sales of Johan Manzambi to Aston Villa and the loan arrangement for Noah Atubolu to Eintracht Frankfurt generated substantial funds, while the club’s consistent European qualification provides ongoing revenue streams. The wage structure remains disciplined, with no single player commanding a disproportionate share of the budget.
Contract Red Alerts
Maximilian Eggestein’s contract extension secured a cornerstone of the midfield for the foreseeable future. Anthony Jung and Jannik Huth also extended their deals in June 2026. The loan arrangement for Noah Atubolu at Eintracht Frankfurt includes an option that will require evaluation, with Mio Backhaus’s immediate impact potentially complicating the returning goalkeeper’s pathway.
The Academy Pipeline & Loan Tracker
Breakout Talents to Watch
Max Rosenfelder’s emergence as a first-choice centre-back and his subsequent Germany call-up represents the most significant academy breakthrough of recent seasons. Rouven Tarnutzer has also featured in pre-season and trained with the senior squad, while Bruno Ogbus continues his development within the club’s youth structure.
Notable Out on Loan
Louey Ben Farhat remains at Karlsruher SC for the 2026/27 campaign following his €7.5 million transfer, with Freiburg retaining the option to bring him to Breisgau in winter — a provision particularly valuable given potential Asian Cup absences for Suzuki, Yamamoto, and Goto in January. Noah Atubolu’s loan to Eintracht Frankfurt represents a significant arrangement for a player who had previously been considered the club’s long-term goalkeeper.
Set-Piece Specialists & FPL Cheat Sheet
Penalties: Vincenzo Grifo (First Choice) / Niklas Beste (Second Choice).
Direct Free-Kicks: Vincenzo Grifo / Niklas Beste.
Corners & Crosses: Vincenzo Grifo / Niklas Beste.
Final Outlook: Navigating the Tactical Horizon
Freiburg enter the post-international break period in a position of genuine strength. Third in the Bundesliga with ten points from four matches, three victories from three in the Conference League and DFB-Pokal, and a squad that has absorbed the departures of two key players without visible disruption — the early evidence suggests Schuster’s side are capable of matching, perhaps exceeding, last season’s achievements.
The attacking output has been particularly encouraging. Ten goals in three league matches represents a new club record, with contributions spread across the squad: Eggestein’s midfield runs, Engelhardt’s immediate impact, Scherhant’s emergence, and Ginter’s set-piece threat. The defensive foundation remains solid, with Backhaus providing security and Ginter organising a back line that has conceded only twice in the league.
The challenges ahead are familiar but manageable. The Asian Cup in January could deprive Freiburg of Suzuki, Yamamoto, and Goto for an extended period, making the winter option to recall Ben Farhat potentially valuable. The Europa Conference League campaign will test squad depth as fixtures accumulate, and the Bundesliga’s competitive intensity means the margin between European qualification and mid-table remains narrow.
Yet the trajectory is unmistakably positive. Schuster has built a team that combines the collective discipline of the Streich era with greater attacking flair, and the summer recruitment has addressed key weaknesses without disrupting the squad’s cohesion. The trip to Eintracht Frankfurt — where Freiburg twice came from behind to earn a draw — demonstrated resilience, and the upcoming fixtures offer opportunities to consolidate their position among the Bundesliga’s top six. If the current form continues, a return to European competition through the league, coupled with a deep run in the Conference League, would represent genuine progress for a club that has quietly become one of German football’s most consistent overachievers.
