Who is Julian Schuster? | OneFootball

Julian Schuster: Who is the Freiburg coach who has sent his side on course for Europe in an incredible first season?

Julian Schuster had a tough act to follow when replacing replace the legendary Christian Streich as Freiburg first-team coach ahead of the 2024/25 season, but he has taken the boys from the Black Forest to the brink of new heights. bundesliga.com has the lowdown....

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Key stats

Julian SchusterAge: 40 (born 15 April 1985)Club: Freiburg Role: Head coachCountry: Germany

While only time will tell whether Schuster is regarded a better coach than Streich, he was certainly a better player. Where Streich managed just 22 Bundesliga 2 games for Freiburg, Schuster played 34, and also 185 in the top flight, the majority of which came under Streich.

Streich had no hesitation in handing Schuster the captain's armband in one of his first major decisions after he took charge in January 2012, and he wore it in virtually every single one of his 115 Bundesliga games under his long-time boss. Used primarily as a defensive midfielder, Schuster's pitch-wide vision of the game and impressive passing range - allied with his natural combativeness - meant Streich also employed him as a sweeper.

Julian Schuster's leadership qualities were obvious during his 219 league appearances as a player for Freiburg. (imago sportfotodienst)

"As a player, I was never fast and never strong," Schuster said, before explaining exactly why he was always captain and coach-in-the-making material. "Analysis was my way to be better than others."

"It was as clear as day for me that 'Schusti' would become a coach one day, and I would be very surprised if he wasn't successful," said former Freiburg teammate Nils Petersen. "His matchday team talks were always unbelieveably clear, motivating and meaningful. When he spoke up, the dressing room was quiet."

He ended his career in 2018, 10 years after it had started by making two short Bundesliga appearances for Freiburg's regional rivals VfB Stuttgart in the 2007/08 season. But his impact on the club was felt for a long time thereafter.

Julian Schuster (l.) has been a key figure in helping young players transition from the academy to the first team, like midfielder Merlin Röhl (r.). (IMAGO/Joeran Steinsiek)

When hotel personnel in Hamburg congratulated Streich on the friendliness of his players after last season's DFB Cup win over HSV, the Freiburg coach cited Schuster and his former teammate, the Slovakia international Karim Guédé, who had watched the cup semi-final standing among the travelling fans, as having had a particular influence on the current squad.

"We have players who have an impact," said Streich, citing the example of Guédé - now a scout for Freiburg - and Schuster as having been ideal role models for the likes of Christian Günter and Nicolas Höfler when they started their careers. "That then has an impact. That's why people often say that they find us nice."

Niceness can only get you so far, however, and Schuster has shown in his debut coaching season of 2024/25 that he has all the attributes needed to lead a side well. Freiburg won a record five of their opening seven matches of the season and pressed on from there.

A club record six consecutive clean sheets during the season aided their bid for the European spots, with fourth place ahead of the final two matchdays of the season putting them on the brink of claiming a spot in the UEFA Champions League for the first time.

Did you know

The Freiburg fans hold Schuster in such great esteem that they still frequently sing the song they had for him while he was still playing. "I've made peace with the song," said Schuster, who is called "a rogue" in the lyrics. Ironically, that is, as the lyrics also refer to him eating muesli in the morning and preferring an early night.

What they're saying

"The coaching position at Freiburg is both an issue close to my heart and a challenge at the same time. I would like to thank those responsible for their trust, but also Christian Streich and all the SC coaches who have accompanied me to this point for their close and intensive collaboration." - Schuster on his appointment in March 2024

"His expertise, his personality and his comprehensive identification with the philosophy and values of SC Freiburg were decisive criteria for us. Over the past six years, he has done valuable work with our young players as assistant and liaison coach and knows the inner workings of the club." - Freiburg managing director Jochen Saier of Schuster's appointment

“The way he has embodied Freiburg, he is a piece, a part of the club. And if I no longer work here at some point, then I would wish that Julian would still be there…" - Christian Streich in 2017

"As a player, Julian was already the longest extension of a coach's arm I have ever seen." - Former Freiburg teammate Nils Petersen

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