Christian Streich will quit as coach of SC Freiburg after the season. According to media reports, ex-professional Julian Schuster is one of the favorites to be the successor. A man with an interesting CV and a close connection to Streich.
Christian Streich had already recognized the strong Freiburg gene in Julian Schuster years ago: “The way he has internalized Freiburg, he is a piece, a part of the club,” said the head coach of the sports club in October 2017 on SWR Sport with great respect about his captain at the time, who was a studio guest on the TV show in Stuttgart at the time. And the following comment from Streich was very interesting at the time: “And if I no longer work here at some point, then I would wish that Julian would still be there…”. In whatever capacity.
Now, seven years later, Christian Streich has actually announced his departure from SC Freiburg at the end of the season. And his right-hand man on the field at the time, Julian Schuster, is still there – as Streich wanted. And it will probably stay that way, perhaps even in an outstanding function. As a successor to Streich as the new head coach from next season, as many media are now speculating? In any case, it would be the typical Freiburg way and therefore extremely realistic.
Most recently as a liaison trainer in Freiburg
Since the end of his playing career in July 2018, Julian Schuster has been working as a kind of talent development coordinator for Freiburg and is therefore familiar with all of the club’s structures. He is a liaison coach at the interface between the youth in the football school, the U23 in the 3rd league and the Bundesliga team, individually responsible for a group of specific players. A new position at the time, which was intended to further intensify the exchange between the football school and the professionals, a “red thread” so to speak for all football trades at Dreisam. Of course, in close collaboration with Christian Streich, from whom there was an endless amount to learn during these years in joint meetings and training units.
Since 2023, Julian Schuster, 38, has also had the DFB Pro license, the highest qualification as a football coach. So he should also train according to the official Bundesliga guidelines.
Julian Schuster: Professional career via the “third educational opportunity”
By the way, Julian Schuster and his former career as a Bundesliga professional is a very special story. A career that led to the Bundesliga via the “third educational opportunity”. Growing up at the Swabian FV Löchgau, the lanky midfielder played as a 19-year-old in the village club’s district league team with a well-known successful youth work record. Rather by chance, he ended up at VfB Stuttgart in January 2005 together with his Löchgau teammate Marco Pishorn.
The former VfB professional Gerhard Poschner was made aware of the two talents by his cousin, the then Löchgau coach Walter Thomae. After a trial training session at VfB, the two boys actually moved to Stuttgart together. Julian Schuster initially earned his first spurs there as an amateur in the second team in the regional league before moving up to the professional squad. An incredible journey from the district league to the Bundesliga. Schuster is very familiar with the development of young players into professionals and has experienced it himself.
In 2008 he moved from VfB Stuttgart to SC Freiburg
In 2008, the Swabian, who played two Bundesliga games for VfB, became a Baden resident by choice. And it remains so until today. For ten years, until 2018, Schuster wore the Breisgauer jersey 242 times. A strong midfielder with strong set pieces. With a directly converted corner against Hoffenheim in 2011, he was even named the scorer of the “Goal of the Month” in the ARD Sportschau.
The Breisgau “stable smell” that is often demanded in many places is more than pronounced. And the fact that the former Löchgauer even led the sports club team onto the field as captain from the 2012 winter break speaks for Schuster’s strong character and his ability to lead.
Christian Streich will be on the SC bench in 2023
By the way, Julian Schuster was able to feel what it feels like to be in charge of the coaching bench at SC Freiburg a year ago, on February 11, 2023. At that time, he stepped in together with assistant Lars Voßler in the Baden-Württemberg duel against VfB Stuttgart when boss Christian Streich was not allowed on the sidelines due to a suspension. The sports club won the game 2-1.
Next season, the likeable and eloquent Schuster could permanently take on the challenging position of head coach. It would be the second giant leap in Julian Schuster’s extraordinary career after moving from Löchgau to Stuttgart. The outgoing Christian Streich would certainly have no objections in this case if we remember the Freiburg cult coach’s words from October 2017 mentioned at the beginning: “And if I no longer work here at some point, then I would like him to Julian is still there…”