Christian Streich, SC Freiburg, steps down

Julian Schuster appointed new head coach

Tears flowed as Freiburg said goodbye to football coach Christian Streich

11 May 2024: The 1:1 draw against Heidenheim was Christian Streich's last home game as head coach of the SC Freiburg. After the game, tens of thousands of supporters celebrated him with a lap of honour through the stadium. Players and fans described it as a well-deserved farewell.

Even half an hour after the final whistle, the Freiburg stadium was still full. None of the spectators had left their seats. Even the visiting fans from Heidenheim had stayed to see Christian Streich off after his last home game as coach of the Sport Club. Chants of "Christian Streich, you are the best man" echoed through the arena and the "legend" did a lap of honour to say goodbye. Streich waved, kissed hands and bowed to the fans. "I was in tears when I saw that," said one SC supporter after the game.

"It was just completely emotional," said another fan, "when you look at the last twelve and a half years and everything we've been through - 2nd division, promotion, Europa League, Turin, London. I'm completely lost for words. But nothing you do is worthy of Christian".

The farewell to their coach was also "very emotional" for the players. "The whole stadium was full, people stayed and shouted his name. I think that was the recognition he deserved for the work he has done for the club," said Freiburg captain Christian Günter, who would have liked to have given Streich a win as a farewell present. "We tried to throw everything into it. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, but it was still a fitting farewell for him," said the 31-year-old.

The fans also expressed their appreciation for Streich with many posters. "Thank you Christian SC legend" and "Loyalty and honesty unfortunately a rarity. Take care Christian" could be read on them. In the subsequent press conference, Streich thanked the supporters for all the applause and "a good relationship over so many years".

Source: SWR Sport

The Bundesliga’s best-loved football coach is stepping down

March 2024: Christian Streich, the football head coach of Bundesliga club SC Freiburg, told the club’s fans in an emotional video that he would be stepping down at the end of the 2023/24 season, after more than 12 years at the helm. He said that the time was right to step aside.

“I’d like to share with you, with a very heavy heart, that I will not be continuing in my role as head coach of my beloved SC Freiburg this summer. I thought long and hard, but I believe it is the right time after 29 years to allow in new people, new energy, and new possibilities at the SC. I also believe our players and the people around us will need that new energy. It’s always been important to me that I don’t miss the moment when I believe it is time to go.”

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Quotes from Christian Streich

“The god of money is getting bigger and bigger, at some point it will devour everything."

"I may have a German passport, but I don't feel German. I am a human being who has a passport that says German in it."

"My players are being offered like cattle on a market. You can read their release clause in the newspapers - it's terrible."

"Go and vote! So that we can gather votes against these unspeakable, xenophobic and unwelcoming policies of some political parties."

"We don't have to make ourselves any sexier than we are, but we're not completely unsexy. Well, I'm relatively unsexy now, I admit that. But the club is admittedly a bit sexy."

Source: Badische Zeitung, Freiburg

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Freiburg’s Director of Sport Jochen Saier added: “Over the past few weeks, we have had an intensive, very trusting and emotional exchange of ideas with Christian - which has resulted in a decision that we regret, but which we can fully respect and understand. Christian's work over the past 12 and a half years as head coach and almost three decades of coaching for our club was and is as special as the joint decision-making process.”

As a former player and later youth coach at the Black Forest club for 15 years, Streich became assistant to first-team coach Marcus Sorg at the start of the 2011/12 season. He then became head coach on 1 January 2012 and has guided the team to its most successful era.

Streich led the team to fifth in his first full season in charge, while the club stuck with him when relegated in 2015. He led them straight back up, topping the second Bundesliga table ahead of RB Leipzig and helped stabilise Freiburg as a top-flight side.

Last year he also led the Black Forest outfit to fifth with a club record of 59 points, ensuring back-to-back campaigns of European football for the first time in their history. Those UEFA Europa League journeys both ended in the knockout stages against Juventus and West Ham United.

The previous season he took Freiburg to the club’s first DFB Cup final, losing unluckily on penalties to Leipzig. Last season, it was again Leipzig that knocked the Freiburg side out in the semi-finals of the Cup.

At the time of his announcement, Christian Streich had been in the job for 4,463 days, ranking him fifth among the longest-serving coaches of a Bundesliga club. None of the other 17 coaches in the division have overseen as many fixtures as him in the German top flight of football. During his years as Bundesliga manager, the SC Freiburg played 383 matches, winning 133, drawing 109 and losing 141

However, it isn’t just Streich’s exploits as a football coach that will ensure that his legacy is never forgotten. The Baden-Württemberg native would rarely shy away from a comment about politics or social issues, speaking in his trademark local dialect that many Germans struggle with.

In 2023, Streich was awarded the Julius Hirsch Prize for his clear stance against xenophobia, racism and discrimination: "With his consistently authentic statements, he not only calls for civil courage but is himself a role model for it," it said in the citation.

“This club has been my life and I’m extraordinarily grateful for the support and affection I’ve received. I’m full of gratitude that I experienced it all. I’d like to thank you all. I’m excited about the future of this club. A great club, a great time for me, but it’s the right time for me to say goodbye,” Christian Streich said.

Julian Schuster to take over from Christian Streich

April 2024: After the departure of Christian Streich, Julian Schuster will take over the position of SC Freiburg’s head coach next season, with Patrik Grolimund joining the coaching staff as his assistant.

Julian Schuster arrived at the SC Freiburg in the 2008/09 season as a player and made 242 competitive appearances for the club over the next ten years. He was named as club captain during the winter break of the 2011/12 season and led the line for SC up until his retirement in 2018. Schuster was appointed as coordinator of talent management at the club in July 2018 and worked with the Freiburg Football School, U23 and the senior squad to integrate youth talent into the first team. Schuster was also active as an assistant coach at this time. This year, Schuster acquired his UEFA Pro License, the highest coaching badge in German football.

Sources: Deutscher Fußball-Bund (German Football Association), SC Freiburg and others.

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