According to media reports, ex-professional Julian Schuster has been chosen as the successor to coach Christian Streich at SC Freiburg. As an internal solution, the 38-year-old will take over the head coaching position after the season, “Bild” and “Kicker” reported on Wednesday. The decision could be officially announced on Thursday or Friday.
According to dpa information, the new coach should be announced this week. It was only on Monday that the sports club announced that the prank era would come to an end after twelve years. It was said that the successor would be informed “promptly”.
Schuster has previously worked for Freiburg as a liaison between professionals and young talent and has been close to the team for several years. He knows the processes within the club and is highly valued.
Schuster was Freiburg captain under Streich
In the summer of 2018, Schuster ended his professional career after ten years at SC Freiburg, having previously been captain under Streich. He still played together with current Freiburg top performers such as captain Christian Günter and midfield stabilizer Nicolas Höfler.
“Even as a player, Julian Schuster was the longest extended arm of a coach that I have ever seen,” said former Freiburg star striker Nils Petersen to the German Press Agency about his former teammate on Tuesday and praised him in general: “It was clear as day for me, that Schusti will become a coach one day, and I would be very surprised if this great personality wasn’t successful.”
The former defensive midfielder Schuster is promoted as a coach without any experience and takes on an extremely difficult task as Streich’s successor. Streich was the club’s figurehead, popular and highly valued even outside of sport, and was successful in sport. He recently led Baden to the round of 16 of the Europa League twice in a row. Two years ago he and his team also reached the final of the DFB Cup. Now, after more than twelve years, Streich has decided to quit to make room for new energies.
