Following a summer defined by coaching change and defensive reconstruction, Union Berlin enters 2026/27 with a squad in transition. Former head coach Steffen Baumgart was dismissed in April, and interim coach Marie-Louise Eta made history as the first woman to coach a men’s team in Europe’s top five leagues, securing 11th place with two wins from her brief spell. Swiss coach Mauro Lustrinelli now takes charge, bringing a remarkable CV that includes guiding Thun to a historic Swiss Super League title. Yet the opening three matches have yielded just one point and a goal difference of -6, leaving the East Berlin club hovering above the relegation zone.
Technical Leadership & Coaching Profile
Manager: Mauro Lustrinelli
Lustrinelli was appointed in summer 2026, succeeding interim coach Eta. The 50-year-old Swiss coach authored one of the most remarkable chapters in Swiss football history during his time at Thun, leading a newly promoted side to the club’s first-ever Swiss Super League title, scoring 80 goals along the way.
Club president Dirk Zingler acknowledged the difficulty of the transition: “We’re prepared for the start to be a bit bumpy.” Lustrinelli himself dismissed external predictions of relegation, turning them into motivation: “Last year Thun were predicted to be the first to be relegated, and that was a fantastic motivation for us.”
Tactical Philosophy
Lustrinelli has made clear his intention to play football defined by “intensity, dynamism, and forward energy,” marking a significant departure from Union’s recent conservative style. His tactical core is high pressing and possession-oriented play, demanding compactness out of possession and rapid vertical progression once the ball is won.
German U21 international Aljoscha Kemlein has been described as having “significantly improved physically after putting on weight,” reflecting Lustrinelli’s demand for midfield robustness. Rani Khedira serves as the anchor of this system — not only shielding the defense but also responsible for maintaining distances between the lines, initiating the press, and being the first to play forward after regaining possession.
Yet the pre-season integration has proven difficult. Nine friendly matches yielded only two wins, including a 0-2 defeat to Carl Zeiss Jena and a 1-2 loss to Dynamo Dresden. Defensive problems have been magnified in the league — ten goals conceded in the opening three matches, including a 0-4 thrashing by Bayer Leverkusen and a 1-3 defeat to Schalke.
Preferred Formations
4-2-2-2 / 4-4-2
Strategic Transfer Activity
Union Berlin’s summer window prioritized defensive reconstruction. The departures of Doekhi and Diogo Leite — both on free transfers, with the former joining Lazio — represented a significant blow to the club’s defensive core.
The club first activated the €1.5 million purchase option for Stanley Nsoki, then signed Marvin Friedrich on a free transfer from Borussia Mönchengladbach, brought in Belgian youth international Zeno Van Den Bosch from Royal Antwerp, and acquired Felix Uduokhai from Besiktas.
The attacking reinforcements were equally notable. Swiss midfielder Kastriot Imeri arrived from Young Boys for approximately €2.5 million, described as Lustrinelli’s “designated signing” — the two had worked together at Thun, winning the Swiss title together. Imeri contributed 6 goals and 8 assists during his loan spell at Thun last season, and his technical ability and versatility were identified by Heldt as key to “adding creativity to the attack.”
Up front, Emmanuel Latte Lath arrived on loan from Atlanta United with a purchase option. The Ivorian striker scored 27 goals in 59 Championship appearances for Middlesbrough but struggled to replicate that form after his move to MLS. Additionally, Michael Aebischer joined from Pisa to strengthen midfield depth.
Table A: Summer Major Transfer Influx
| Player | Position | Arrival Type | Former Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kastriot Imeri | Attacking Midfielder/Winger | Permanent | Young Boys |
| Zeno Van Den Bosch | Center-Back | Permanent | Royal Antwerp |
| Marvin Friedrich | Center-Back | Free Transfer | Borussia Mönchengladbach |
| Stanley Nsoki | Center-Back | Purchase Option | Hoffenheim |
| Felix Uduokhai | Center-Back | Permanent | Besiktas |
| Emmanuel Latte Lath | Forward | Loan | Atlanta United |
| Michael Aebischer | Midfielder | Permanent | Pisa |
The First-Team Roster
Goalkeepers
Frederik Rønnow (#1): The Danish goalkeeper has been Union’s defensive constant for years, but injuries have disrupted his start to the season. His experience and shot-stopping remain significant assets once fully fit, though Lustrinelli has hinted that the goalkeeper position will be decided on form.
Matheo Raab (#12): Has shouldered starting responsibilities during Rønnow’s absence but has not fully convinced. His distribution suits Lustrinelli’s system, but consistency remains unproven.
Carl Klaus (#33): The 32-year-old “rookie” finished last season with three consecutive solid starts and has been described as having “strong hands.” During Rønnow’s injury, he may be the most reliable short-term option.
Defenders
Leopold Querfeld (#): The 22-year-old Austrian center-back is the defensive core asset, having impressed last season. His maturity and reading of the game are rare for his age, making him the foundation of Union’s future defense.
Zeno Van Den Bosch (#): The 22-year-old Belgian center-back arrived from Antwerp with over 100 Belgian Pro League appearances. Heldt described him as possessing “height and physical strength, combined with good mobility,” emphasizing that “becoming a regular starter at a top Belgian club at this age requires maturity, discipline, and leadership.”
Marvin Friedrich (#): The experienced former player returns, providing immediate quality and familiarity. His years at Gladbach accumulated extensive Bundesliga experience, making him a reliable option in the back four.
Stanley Nsoki (#): The French U21 international signed permanently from Hoffenheim and possesses the potential to become a regular starter. Currently sidelined with a muscle injury.
Felix Uduokhai (#): The former German youth international arrived from Besiktas but is unavailable due to pneumonia.
Josip Juranović (#): The Croatian right-back is the primary option on the right but has a concerning injury record. His attacking ability and crossing quality provide important width when fit.
Tom Rothe (#): The young left-back scored the equalizer in the DFB-Pokal, demonstrating his attacking contribution. His pace and stamina suit Lustrinelli’s demand for advanced full-backs.
Christopher Trimmel (#): The 39-year-old club legend sees reduced minutes but remains a valuable dressing-room presence for his leadership and set-piece ability.
Oluwaseun Ogbemudia (#): The 20-year-old center-back emerged in pre-season, described as a “mini Dayot Upamecano,” showcasing one-on-one defending and ball-playing ability. His development is worth monitoring.
Midfielders
Rani Khedira (#): The team’s tactical anchor and spiritual leader. In Lustrinelli’s new system, Khedira’s role extends beyond screening the defense — he is the hub connecting the lines, initiating the press, and driving forward. His experience and stability are crucial for a team in transition.
Aljoscha Kemlein (#): The German U21 regular has been described as looking “like Goretzka during the 2020 pandemic” after putting on weight. At 22, he is viewed as a potential successor to Trimmel’s captaincy and may develop into an 8.
Michael Aebischer (#): The Swiss midfielder signed from Pisa provides additional technical and tactical options in the double pivot.
Janik Haberer (#): His versatility allows him to cover multiple midfield positions and even deputize at right-back. His reliability and team spirit make him an important squad member in the rotation.
András Schäfer (#): The Hungarian international provides running and coverage, suited to Lustrinelli’s high-intensity pressing demands.
Forwards
Woo-Yeong Jeong (#): The Korean winger has shown the most consistent effort in pre-season, described as “deserving to start on the wing in either a 4-4-2 or 4-2-2-2.” His off-ball movement and reading of the half-spaces make him an ideal fit for Lustrinelli’s system.
Livan Burcu (#): The 21-year-old attacker was a breakout discovery late last season, his explosiveness, ball-carrying, and creativity making him “the best component of this attack.” His development will directly influence Union’s attacking ceiling.
Kastriot Imeri (#): The Swiss international signed from Young Boys, having enjoyed successful collaboration with Lustrinelli at Thun. His technical ability and multi-positional profile provide much-needed creativity in the attacking line.
Marin Ljubičić (#): Scored twice in the DFB-Pokal first round, demonstrating his instincts in the box. His movement and finishing are important weapons for Union’s attack.
Emmanuel Latte Lath (#): The Ivorian striker on loan from Atlanta United is expected to “inject speed, depth, and finishing into the attack.” His goalscoring record at Middlesbrough proves his ability, but he must adapt to the physicality of the Bundesliga.
Oliver Burke (#): The Scottish striker’s physical gifts are undeniable, but consistency has always been the issue. His speed (he set a league speed record last season) and physique theoretically suit a two-striker system, but he “sometimes looks cumbersome and makes basic tactical and positional errors.” Currently sidelined with an Achilles problem.
Andrej Ilić (#): The Serbian striker, involved in 15 goals last season, is absent following appendicitis surgery. His return has been described as “the rescue rope for the team’s attack.” His heading ability and hold-up play are irreplaceable elements in Union’s attacking system.
Tim Skarke (#): Has already scored twice as a substitute, his speed and directness offering a different threat in the latter stages of matches.
Leadership Group & Squad Regulations
Club Captain: Rani Khedira
Khedira has worn the captain’s armband in each of the opening three league matches, serving as the most stable spiritual pillar of this transitional team. His experience and understanding of the club’s culture make him a key bridge between Lustrinelli and the dressing room.
The Leadership Committee
Christopher Trimmel, as a club legend, retains significant influence in the dressing room despite reduced playing time. Marvin Friedrich’s return brings leadership to the defense, while Haberer’s versatility and reliability make him a trusted executor of the coaching staff’s plans.
Homegrown Quota Check
Union Berlin’s academy continues to produce talent. Aljoscha Kemlein has become a regular first-team member, while Oluwaseun Ogbemudia emerged in pre-season. The club’s pathway for young players remains clear, and the development of Kemlein and Ogbemudia will be important indicators of academy success.
Financial & Contractual Health
Financial Balance Overview
Union Berlin’s summer transfer strategy leaned distinctly toward low-cost operations. Reports indicate the club invested substantial resources into stadium infrastructure renovation rather than the transfer market. This explains why the defensive rebuild relied primarily on free transfers, loans, and low-fee purchases rather than significant investment. The sale of Ilyas Ansah to Premier League newcomers Hull City generated funds, but the failure to reinforce the forward line in time proved costly once Ilić’s long-term absence became apparent.
Contract Red Alerts
Andrej Ilić’s injury exposed the fragility of the attacking depth. Berliner Zeitung explicitly stated that failing to sign a replacement for Ansah “must be viewed as a mistake,” and even if Ilić returns after the October international break, he will need time to regain match fitness and cannot be expected to play 90 minutes every match. The club may be forced into the market for a free-agent striker in the winter window.
The Academy Pipeline & Loan Tracker
Breakout Talents to Watch
Oluwaseun Ogbemudia was one of the biggest discoveries of pre-season. The 20-year-old center-back demonstrated genuine skill in both phases, described as “already looking physically like a mini Upamecano.” Whether he stays with the first team or is sent on a developmental loan, his future is widely regarded as promising.
Aljoscha Kemlein has moved beyond the “prospect” stage, becoming a regular for the German U21s and an important member of Union’s first team.
Livan Burcu’s breakthrough came late last season, and this campaign represents his opportunity to prove it was not a flash in the pan. His technique and creativity are viewed as the most decisive variables in the attacking line.
Notable Out on Loan
Dmytro Bohdanov was loaned to Energie Cottbus late in the transfer window, a move criticized as an “unnecessary weakening” given Ilić’s injury. A winter recall could be considered if the attacking crisis persists.
Set-Piece Specialists & FPL Cheat Sheet
Penalties: Marin Ljubičić (First Choice) / Tim Skarke (Second Choice).
Direct Free-Kicks: Christopher Trimmel / Robert Skov.
Corners & Crosses: Christopher Trimmel / Tom Rothe.
Final Outlook: Navigating the Tactical Horizon
Union Berlin’s 2026/27 season opening is a crisis in the making. One point from three matches, a goal difference of -6, and 16th place in the table have exposed serious problems in both phases under Lustrinelli. Ten goals conceded — including a 0-4 thrashing by Bayer Leverkusen and a 1-3 defeat to Schalke — and an attack deprived of Ilić’s focal point have created a structural mismatch between squad composition and tactical design.
The challenges facing Lustrinelli are multi-dimensional. He must continue implementing his tactical transformation under results pressure while managing an injury-depleted squad. Burke, Ilić, Nsoki, Friedrich, and Uduokhai are all unavailable or doubtful, meaning he has been unable to field his ideal starting XI in the season’s opening phase. The integration of the back four — particularly building understanding between Van Den Bosch, Friedrich, and Querfeld — requires time that the Bundesliga’s unforgiving schedule will not readily provide.
The forward line is the greatest concern. Ilić’s heading ability and hold-up play are the tactical fulcrum of the attack, and his absence has prevented Union from controlling long balls and allowing Latte Lath and Ljubičić to exploit second balls with their speed. Berliner Zeitung’s assessment was pointed: “In retrospect, not signing a new striker after Ansah’s departure must be viewed as a mistake.” Winter window recruitment will be crucial, with Joselu among the free-agent options mentioned.
History, however, offers hope. Lustrinelli experienced being predicted as “the first to be relegated” at Thun before winning the title. Union’s fan culture is renowned for its resilience and unity, and experienced players like Khedira, Trimmel, and Friedrich form the skeleton to weather the crisis. The development speed of young players like Kemlein, Burcu, and Ogbemudia may determine whether the team can find stable competitive form before winter.
The 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt showcased the team’s attacking potential while exposing its defensive fragility. The 0-7 away defeat to Bayern was a brutal reality check but not a season-defining fixture. The true tests will be October matches against Elversberg, Augsburg, and Cologne — these are the opponents Union must take points from. If Lustrinelli can stabilize the defense, wait for Ilić’s return, and reinforce the attack in winter, this club renowned for its rebellious spirit is fully capable of replicating last season’s survival trajectory. But as the club president said, “the start will be a bit bumpy” — the question is how long the bumpiness will last.
