The personal farewell fit perfectly into the way he has worked so far: Don’t make too much fuss about yourself, rather put the club in the foreground and always feel a healthy amount of gratitude for the job. When Christian Streich addressed fans and football Germany via video message on Monday morning, all of this was clearly noticeable once again.
“Dear friends and joy of SC Freiburg, dear fans, everyone who likes us: I would like to inform you, with a heavy heart, that I will no longer be continuing my work as a coach at SC Freiburg in the summer,” he explained – and with everyone In every word you could hear how painful this decision had been. “I gave it a lot of thought. We talked for a long time. But after 29 years, it is the right time to let new energy, new people, new opportunities come in,” Streich continued. “It was always very, very important to me that I didn’t want to miss the moment when I think it’s time to go. This club is my life and I am extremely grateful for the great support and affection that I have always received.”
Christian Streich, 58 years old and THE face of SC Freiburg for what feels like an eternity, is actually quitting the club that has long since become his life’s work. Not only does he end an era in Breisgau, but German football also loses its good conscience – at least for the time being. Because where he ends up is still completely unclear.
“Clear edge”
In any case, it is difficult to imagine the sports club from Freiburg without its smart mastermind in one of the crucial positions. Since taking office as head coach in January 2012, he has gradually developed into one of the club’s most important protagonists and has also developed charisma far beyond Baden-Württemberg. With financially manageable resources, he led the club three times into the group phase of the Europa League and in 2022 into the first DFB Cup final in the club’s history, which Freiburg lost 2-4 on penalties against RB Leipzig.
And even more important: With his Breisgau idiom, he regularly addressed topics beyond football and often took a stand on political or socially critical issues. The big wide world explained by the son of a butcher from Eimeldingen – this is also why the football club stood and still stands under the aegis of Streich. It was only in mid-January that he called on the Germans to take a “very clear stance” against the re-emergence of right-wing extremism. “If you don’t get up now, you haven’t understood anything. It’s five minutes to twelve. Everyone in this country is called upon to stand up and clearly position themselves in their family circles, at work or elsewhere,” said the South Baden native at the time.
Tribute to an extraordinary coach: Freiburg’s professionals celebrate Christian Streich after direct promotion back to the Bundesliga in 2016
Source: dpa
The 58-year-old also approached the team with empathy and commitment. Ex-professional Nils Petersen once described the magic that Streich was able to create, especially verbally, in a WELT interview: “When I was still at Werder Bremen, at some point they said I should talk to Christian Streich on the phone. I thought to myself: ‘Oh no, Freiburg, they’re last, I’m not really keen on that now.’ Then I spoke to him on the phone for half an hour and said: ‘I want to go there immediately.’”
Streich can convey what is important to him incredibly well. “You take that from him 100 percent. He’s fun to talk to, incredibly educated and truly a football nut. Tactically and professionally, no coach has brought me as far as he has. “He knows how to deal with people,” said the two-time national player, who ended his career at SC last summer.
Two who appreciate and like each other: Nils Petersen (r.) with coach Streich
Source: dpa
Now they will have to make do in the city with 236,000 inhabitants without the leading bank boss. In total, Streich has worked for the club in various coaching positions since 1995, and the game at Union Berlin will be over in two months after the 34th matchday on May 18th. And it’s somehow fitting that his career comes to an end where, in addition to the SC, a small football miracle has emerged in recent years with well-thought-out decisions.
“A huge loss”
The approaching, serious turning point also affected many of the coach’s companions emotionally on Monday. “He’s the one who helped raise me, I say, because I’ve known him since I was a teenager. How he wants to play football, what his attitude towards football is, that’s how he made me grow up,” said goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. “I’m extremely grateful to him for everything, you can’t put it into words because it’s so much more. He has a very good relationship with all of his protégés, and that will always remain the case,” said the Hoffenheim goalkeeper, who played in Freiburg from 2000 to 2014.
Robin Koch, who was trained by Streich for three years before his stints at Leeds United and Frankfurt, also sees the announced withdrawal as a turning point. “This is a huge loss for the Bundesliga,” said the central defender after his arrival at the national team meeting in Frankfurt/Main. “I think the whole of Germany is a little sad that he’s stopping.”
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In the meantime – and this is also part of the truth of his work – the face of the club and one of the defining figures of the entire league has also become a little tired of his job. He has that in common with Jürgen Klopp, who, also a little exhausted, announced his end as club coach at Liverpool FC via video message a few weeks ago.
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And like Klopp, Streich could not be changed in his decision. “We have been in an intensive, very trusting and emotional exchange of ideas with Christian over the past few weeks – at the end of which there is a decision that we regret, but can fully respect and understand,” said SC sports director Jochen Saier. But the time to finally pay tribute to Streich has not yet come. The “journey together” is not quite over yet.
After Freiburg’s elimination in the round of 16 of the Europa League against West Ham last Thursday, he can now be admired eight times in his work as coach of SC Freiburg. He initially left it unanswered whether the coach of the year for 2021/22 and a football teacher who has received numerous honors such as the Julius Hirsch Award will then take a break. You could also easily imagine him in the role of national coach.