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1.FC Union Berlin are reorganising the sporting management of their Bundesliga team. From July 1, 2024, Horst Heldt will take over the role of managing director of men’s professional football. Oliver Ruhnert will return to the position of chief scout at his own request after six years as managing director.
“We will start the new season with new personnel,” explained Union president, Dirk Zingler. “In Horst Heldt, we have gained an experienced Bundesliga manager who will join us in the summer, but who is already involved in all planning. Oliver Ruhnert will remain with us, will work closely with Horst Heldt and will drive forward the squad planning for the new season.” He continued, “We would like to thank Oliver Ruhnert for his commitment over the last few years. His work has played a major role in the sporting success of our club. I am happy that we can continue to count on him and look forward to working with Horst Heldt and him.”
Heldt can look back on a long and successful career as both a player and manager. After 392 games as a professional footballer for 1.FC Köln, 1860 München, Eintracht Frankfurt, Sturm Graz and VfB Stuttgart, he remained involved in football, with responsible roles at various clubs. From 2006 to 2010, the now 54-year-old was sports director at VfB Stuttgart, who became German Bundesliga champions in 2007. He then moved to the board of FC Schalke 04, where he celebrated winning the DFB Pokal in 2011 and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League in 2012. This was followed by stints at Hannover 96 (2017-19) and 1.FC Köln (2019-21).
“Union have been a stable force in German professional football for many years; a calm, well-managed club,” said Heldt on his new role. “Their development in recent years has been extraordinarily rapid and extremely impressive. It is not surprising that we have to cope with a difficult season from time to time. That’s part of establishing yourself in the Bundesliga and can prove to be very valuable in the future. I am proud to be working for 1.FC Union Berlin from now on and will contribute my experience here in order for us to be successful together.”
Oliver Ruhnert joined 1.FC Union Berlin as head scout in the 2017/18 season and has served as managing director of men’s professional football since the summer of 2018. Together with the team led by head coach Urs Fischer, he helped Union gain promotion to the Bundesliga in 2019 and qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Champions League in the years that followed after avoiding relegation in the inaugural season.
“I look back on the last seven years with great pride,” was Ruhnert’s view on his new role. “We have achieved unimaginable success here at Union with united forces and are now facing our 6th Bundesliga season. All of this has taken a lot of energy, but it is a time I would never want to miss. Special thanks go to the entire team, without whom these successes would not have been possible. In the future,” he continued, “I will concentrate on scouting again and support my successor to the best of my ability.”
