Union Berlin: A Club Built By The Fans, For The Fans - Covered by Unwanted FC

If you haven’t already noticed, FC Union Berlin is quickly gaining global support.

A trip to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei is like no other. Well known to amaze not only international visitors, but even locals. Our visit to the Berlin club earlier this year in April confirmed the following statement.

“These are passionate fans with strong values.” 

Bleed for Union 

Before we even start talking about the impressive season Union Berlin are having in the Bundesliga, we are going back to the roots. 

Homage must be given to the fans, as their humble values were best displayed during a huge moment which occurred back in 2004, when the club almost fell out of the German 4th division and into non-league football whilst fighting bankruptcy.

However, the fans weren’t going to let that happen. A ‘Bleed For Union’ campaign was set up by fans giving away their own blood to fundraise capital back into the club. In 2008, money was still tight, but fans got together to update and modernise the stadium - volunteering over 140,000 working hours into the project. 

Union have since been seen climbing back up through the ranks in recent years, with the hard work all seeming to pay off. 

Just imagine seeing the team you gave your blood to, in the stadium you helped build, now soaring in the first division.

Beyond 50 + 1

Fan culture in the Bundesliga holds a great reputation thanks to the 50 + 1 rule. Clubs and the fans hold a majority of their own voting rights under the German Football League rules. Clubs will not be allowed to play in the Bundesliga if commercial investors have more than a 49 percent stake. 

So in essence, this means that private investors cannot take over clubs and potentially push through measures that prioritise profit over the wishes of supporters. 

Even with this rule in place, Union still stands out to most Germans due to their huge heart and desire to act as a collective. It’s also the amount of ‘Berlin Mentality’ that is reflected by this football club on so many levels.

During our visit to a league match against Frankfurt, a few moments early on sparked just why they’re a popular club across the country. 

We also witnessed a huge eye opener moment when the stadium announcer gave special mention before kick off to away team Frankfurt, for beating Barcelona earlier in the week. And rather than booing their players when the squad was being announced, the packed house full of Union supporters gave a unique chant of approval each time. Nothing over the top, but far from being offensive.

With all of this respect from the club already being showcased even before kick off, we knew we were in for something special.

The team did everything as one, pressed together as a unit and stringed passes effectively with cohesion. It was honestly the quickest 90 minutes we’ve ever witnessed. To top it all off, the majority of fans are on their feet for the entire game, as standing capacity makes up over 80% of the total stadium.

Union Berlin Players That Caught Our Eye

Genki Haraguchi 

The Japanese international is no stranger to the Bundesliga. Surprisingly, he played for cross city rivals Hertha BSC between 2014-2018, before stints at Fortuna Dusseldorf and Hannover 96, he finally made his way to East Berlin to put on the Red Jersey last season. At 31 years of age, Haraguchi has quickly become a fan favourite.

Ranki Khedira

Does the surname sound familiar? Ranki is indeed the younger brother of Sami Khedira. Also a ‘number six’ or central midfielder. He only joined Union last season as well, but has been playing a critical role ever since.

Morten Thorsby

The new boy on the block who signed on this season from Sampdoria. Thorsby is a well known environmental advocate off the pitch. Starting his own brand and movement under the ‘We Play Green’ foundation, he encourages football communities to adopt better practices towards fighting climate change. It comes as no surprise to see Union sign a player with such strong values and awareness. This was a transfer that just made sense. 

Taiwo Awoniyi

The golden boy that got away. Awoniyi was only at Union Berlin for two seasons, with the first season being out on loan from former club Liverpool, before Union decided to sign him for a second season in 2021 for £6.5 million. The Nigerian striker was a fan favourite, scoring 15 goals in 31 games last season, he left on good terms with the club as Nottingham Forest signed the player for £17 million.

The cult club has taken flight this season, 7 matches in and sitting at the top of the table.

A community driven club challenging at the very top. Given a second chance at life thanks to its humble set of fans. You love to see it.

Attending an Union Berlin game whilst visiting the city is a must.