Steffen Baumgart: "For us, success is staying up" | OneFootball

Steffen Baumgart on inspiring Union Berlin to safety, his emotional ties to the club and admiration for Thomas Müller

Steffen Baumgart's return to Union Berlin, a club he previously played for, always looked like a match made in heaven. After a strong run of form in the spring saw Union secure their top-flight status for next season, the iconic coach reflected on just what has gone right in recent weeks and what makes the capital outfit so special...

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bundesliga.com: Your team ended up securing safety in extremely dramatic circumstances with a rollercoaster 4-4 draw at home to VfB Stuttgart. How did you feel after that?

Steffan Baumgart: "It was a real up-and-down game, but I don’t think it was that one game that ensured safety, but more the run of our last six games unbeaten. We were more or less safe before the Stuttgart match, but that confirmed it. The fact we conceded four goals is something we can analyse, but the result was all that mattered in the end. The atmosphere was amazing - but that is normal for Union fans, especially when something’s been achieved. The atmosphere is always good - euphoric even.”

Baumgart made 64 appearances for Union in his playing days, scoring 22 goals as an attacker. (IMAGO / Bernd König)

bundesliga.com: After a 1-0 defeat at home to Kiel on Matchday 24, Union have gone unbeaten in six matches against Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Munich, Freiburg, Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart. How do you explain such a strong turnaround?

Baumgart: "I don’t think things can always be explained in football. When you look at each game, each one had its own story. Lots of things started going our way. Those positive things then brought confidence. Confidence then brings things you sometimes can’t explain, because when you’re 1-0 down against Bayern, for instance, you normally don’t come back. We’re pleased though that we’ve managed a run against opponents who are seen as better than us - although I don’t think any of them are better teams in terms of running, mentality and desire. We deployed all those things, and I think that brought us back to the virtues that once gave Union success."

Union represent Baumgart's seventh station as a head coach. (IMAGO/Sebastian Räppold/Matthias Koch)

bundesliga.com: People say you have transformed Union back to their usual selves - is that true?

Baumgart: "No. That’s work by the guys wanting it and accepting it. It’s a lot of work by the coaching staff. I’m the one who’s at the forefront and has to explain things, whether positive or negative, but it’s not that I’ve done this or that to transform everything. Football can’t be explained sometimes. But what can be explained is that when you stay true to yourself, and remain clear in yourself, then you can succeed. That’s defined in different ways by different people. For us, success is staying up. For others, success is lifting the Champions League or winning the title. We should stick to our thing."

bundesliga.com: On that note, just how much does Bundesliga survival mean to the club?

Baumgart: "I think it’s really special to be going into a seventh year in the Bundesliga. Some teams having a good season this time - Freiburg, Mainz, Augsburg, Gladbach – have also had seasons before where they’ve had to fight to stay up. It’s important for us that we know where we’ve come from, know our strengths, and that we can build on those strengths. The guys are doing that well right now."

Union fans are famed for their loyal and vociferous support. (IMAGO/BRUNO FAHY/IMAGO/Belga)

bundesliga.com: What was it like returning to Union having played there between 2002 and 2004?

Baumgart: "Well, I never left. I’ve been a club member since 2002 - not because I played here, but because I became a fan. I became a fan due to what I experienced as a player here at a very difficult time, getting relegated in my only season as a captain. The people I met then, they’re still here, some working as stewards or as a groundsman – they’re all still here and I’ve known them forever. My wife worked here for seven years as well. Even when I came here later as an opposing coach, I was always welcome here. I always felt I was coming here as someone who belonged."

bundesliga.com: The year after you left Union as a player, they were relegated to the fourth tier of German football. How do you explain their rise since then?

Baumgart: "People had real balls. People didn't just follow others. It's interesting if you look at Union’s history, there have often been things done that people said just wouldn’t work. This club has always overcome obstacles, kept itself alive and kept going. I think that’s still a hallmark of the club now.”

bundesliga.com: How would your younger self as a player describe you as a coach?

Baumgart: "I’d say he would find me definitely emotional but always honest and clear, which I believe helps most players. It’s not always easy. When you as a player hear what you’re doing well, then that’s easy. What you’re not doing well then becomes subjective. I’m quite sure I would have got on well with myself as a person, even if I was guaranteed to have some trouble.”

bundesliga.com: You’re known as an honest, down-to-earth person. Is that a reason why you’re such a good fit for Union?

Baumgart: "I think it’s always tough when someone calls you down to earth. What does it even mean? In a positive situation, we’re all positive and grounded. When things go badly, it’s more difficult. I believe I’m always very clear in what I want. That doesn’t always mean you’re successful. I know what I want and know how I want to deal with people. I’m also sure one of my traits is that I never look down on people but deal with people on a level playing field. It doesn’t matter whether they’re a coach, a player, a groundsman or work with other things. I think that’s important."

bundesliga.com: You once said ‘I try to treat everyone equally, whether a hotel receptionist, cleaner or security staff – the people not everybody notices. That’s very important to me.’ Does that explain why you feel so at home at Union?

Baumgart: "That's definitely something I follow closely. My daughter spent two and a half years in Australia, and what’s really noticeable when you go into a shop in Australia is that people ask how you are. They’re not asking just to ask you, but because they really want to know. That doesn’t happen here in Germany. Nobody asks you on the street here how you’re doing. If you ask, ‘how are you?’, they look at you and ask what you want from them. That’s the big difference. If you can bring that in, maybe by swapping some nice words with strangers from time to time, then that does something for you."

bundesliga.com: Can that mentality help in football?

Baumgart: "Absolutely. Union have been able to follow that mentality you tend to see elsewhere of people being more relaxed and not always seeing the negative side. When we were relegated in my playing days and things were going badly, people came up to me and said, ‘Baumi, it’s fine. We’re not being relegated; we’re just giving others the chance to get to know us’. That's a phrase that has always stuck with me. While we want to stay in the Bundesliga, Union fans accept things as they are - in the Bundesliga or any other division."

bundesliga.com: How would you describe Union to someone from outside of Germany?

Baumgart: "Like a little town that is completely united, which I see as very special. Union has become a brand from a district of Berlin, and it’s still a special brand. Most people see the club as a focal point of their life, and when Union are doing well, then lots of people are doing well too. We have a terrace on the far side, and I’m sure only 50 percent of that terrace sees only half of the match and never the whole pitch, but they’re still 100 percent behind us the whole time - I’ve stood on that terrace so I know what I’m talking about.”

bundesliga.com: What was your biggest challenge upon taking charge at Union?

Baumgart: "There wasn't anything too significant. I found a team that still wanted things, and that was good at implementing everything you wanted as a coach. If you want to talk about a challenge, then I think the challenge was remaining calm and clear through the tough times, and sticking to the plan."

bundesliga.com: We have one final question, if we may, about Thomas Müller leaving Bayern at the end of the season. What are your thoughts on the departing legend?

Baumgart: "Mülli is a one-off. I think what makes Mülli so special is that he has a clear opinion and says what he’s thinking in every moment. I’m sure Mülli knows what he’s going to do. His life will continue afterwards and will continue to be positive. I firmly believe he’ll stay in football. I don’t think we should be too worried. What we’ll miss is his special demeanour. I’m pretty sure he has a plan, and he’ll be fine in life.”

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