Promotion-winning coach Urs Fischer and assistant Markus Hoffmann have extended their contracts at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

Fischer and Hoffmann took the reins at 1. FC Union Berlin in the summer of 2018, having previously worked together at Swiss giants FC Basel. The duo helped Union finish third in the 2.Bundesliga in their first season in Köpenick, securing a play-off place against VfB Stuttgart. With a 2-2 draw in Stuttgart, followed by a 0-0 bout in Berlin, 1. FC Union progressed to the Bundesliga for the first time in the club's history. The excellent work of Fischer and Hoffmann pushed Union to new heights, including an 11th-placed finish in the Bundesliga last season. The results have continued into 2020/21 with 16 points from 10 matches in the German top flight.

"The decision to sign up Urs Fischer has proven to be absolutely right for 1 FC Union Berlin," said club president Dirk Zingler. "Together with his team of coaches, he is making a decisive contribution to establishing Union in the Bundesliga and developing the club even further. We value Urs Fischer as a person who fits in wonderfully with Union and as an excellent coach with whom we would like to work together for a longer period of time. We are very pleased that this appreciation goes both ways and we were able to agree with him and Markus Hoffmann an extended partnership."
 
Urs Fischer is also sure about the direction the club is headed: "In recent years, we have experienced great things together here and celebrated successes. I have felt at home at Union from the very beginning and I still do so today. The daily work on the training pitch, together with the coaches and the whole team is incredibly fun, the whole atmosphere in the club allows for calm and concentrated work. I look forward to continuing this work here even longer."

"The first two-and-a-half years here at Union have gone by in a flash. We have achieved a lot and it is fun in every way to work for this club. It was a very easy decision for me and for Urs to continue here. I would like to thank you for your trust and look forward to the next few years," added Markus Hoffmann after signing his new deal.

"The relationship with Urs Fischer and his team is going as we wished and imagined when we signed him up back then. On and off the pitch he plays an enormously important role for us. He stands for meticulous work that has been successful for more than two years, so an extension is only a justified reward," said Oliver Ruhnert, Director of Professional Football at 1. FC Union Berlin.