AAP Soccer

Struggling Union Berlin sack Bjelica, reinstall Grote

By AAP Newswire

May 7, 2024

Union Berlin have fired Nenad Bjelica as coach and appointed Marco Grote in his place in a bid to save the team from Bundesliga relegation.

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Bjelica and his assistants were told Monday morning they had to go, Union said in a statement.

Grote becomes interim coach for the second time this season after taking over from longtime favourite Urs Fischer, who was axed in November after a 14-game run without a win.

The 51-year-old Grote will again be assisted by Marie-Louise Eta and Sebastian BÃ¶nig. Eta had stayed on as assistant coach under Bjelica, while Grote had gone back to Union's under-19s.

Union travel to Cologne on Saturday, a must-win game for the hosts to avoid being the second team relegated after last-place Darmstadt. Union then host Freiburg on the final day.

Bjelica's last game in charge was Sunday's 4-3 loss at home to relegation-rival Bochum, when his team conceded three goals in the first half. It was Union's sixth consecutive game without a win and left the club just a point above the drop zone.

With two rounds remaining, Union has 30 points, one ahead of Mainz in the relegation playoff spot, and six ahead of Cologne.

Promoted to Germany's top division for the first time in 2019 Union made their Champions League debut this season but failed to win a game.