Comprehensive details about Union Berlin football club
FC Union Berlin: A Resilient Club's Journey from East Berlin to the Bundesliga
In the heart of Berlin, a football club with a rich history and a strong identity has been making waves in German football. 1. FC Union Berlin, registered in 1920, has its roots in Oberschöneweide, where it was founded by students and apprentices.
The club's early successes were evident, as it claimed the Verbandsliga (Berlin championship) in the 1919/1920 season. After initial promotions in 1920, the team moved up to the 2nd and 1st Class.
The club's journey, however, was not without challenges. During the Cold War era in East Germany, Union Berlin stood out as a "working-class" club, in stark contrast to its rival BFC Dynamo, which was heavily backed by the Stasi and the East German state. Union Berlin's resilience and dedicated fan base helped it navigate these political and sporting landscapes with limited support and resources.
Post-reunification, Union Berlin secured a place in the Regionalliga. This marked the beginning of a new era for the club, culminating in its promotion to the 1. Bundesliga in the 2018/19 season. The club's recent successes include participations in the UEFA Europa League (2022/23) and the UEFA Conference League (2021/22).
As of December 2024, FC Union Berlin boasts nearly 70,000 members, making it the largest club in Berlin. The club's symbol, which includes a football, a Berlin bear, and the words "1. FC Union Berlin" in red, yellow, black, and white, is a testament to its proud heritage.
The club's home ground, the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, has a total capacity of 22,012 fans, with 18,400 standing places and 3,600 seated places.
A very recent development as of July 2025 is the construction start of the Alte Försterei Training Centre, a new facility intended to provide modern training infrastructure for both the first team and youth players. This project is part of Union Berlin's commitment to professional development under the philosophy of "one professional department – two teams," which promotes equality in training conditions between squads.
The history of 1. FC Union Berlin is a tale of overcoming political and sporting adversity in East Germany, growing into a Bundesliga professional club, and recently committing to infrastructure growth with its new training center inaugurated in mid-2025. The club's strong community identity, associated with resilience and fan engagement, remains a defining characteristic.
As the club continues to make strides on the pitch, it also looks forward to a bright future off it, with the Alte Försterei Training Centre set to provide the modern facilities needed for continued success. With the team currently coached by Steffen Baumgart, football fans can look forward to more exciting times ahead for 1. FC Union Berlin.
- FC Union Berlin, known for its roots in East Berlin, has shown a knack for excelling in European leagues, as they participated in the UEFA Europa League (2022/23) and the UEFA Conference League (2021/22).
- Despite their initial successes, such as winning the Verbandsliga (Berlin championship) in the 1919/1920 season, Union Berlin faced challenges during the Cold War when they operated as a "working-class" club in contrast to other teams.
- In the realm of sports analysis, the recent construction start of the Alte Försterei Training Centre signifies a significant step in FC Union Berlin's commitment to professional development and equal training conditions, aiming to propel the team further in the Premier League and European leagues.
