Steffen Baumgart’s Tactical Brilliance Powers Union Berlin’s Resurgence

Union Berlin’s head coach, Steffen Baumgart, is currently showcasing his remarkable managerial skills, often referred to as his “Midas Touch.” Following the Bundesliga winter break, Baumgart has maintained an impressive streak from the start of 2025, particularly in his adept use of substitutes to secure vital goals.

In a notable 3-1 victory against RB Leipzig on matchday 14, Baumgart’s strategic substitutions of Christopher Trimmel (who provided an assist), Andrej Ilic (also an assist), and Tim Skarke (who scored) turned a challenging 1-1 stalemate into a significant upset. Furthermore, a late introduction of Andras Schäfer in matchday 15 led to a crucial 1-0 away win.

In the recent matchday 16 encounter, substitutes Woo Yeong-Jeong and Marin Ljubicic played pivotal roles in earning Union a draw against Mainz 05. Generally, when a pattern occurs consecutively, it tends to suggest that luck and coincidence are less influential than one might assume.

While it is true that luck always plays a part, it is noteworthy that Skarke, Jeong, Schäfer, and Ljubicic all netted their first and only goals of the season in these last three matches. Jeong and Ljubicic, previously regarded as significant transfer flops due to poor performances over the last two campaigns, have suddenly found relevance. Meanwhile, Skarke and Schäfer have only made two starts each this season, illustrating how Baumgart is successfully reinvigorating previously underutilized or forgotten players.

Tactically, Baumgart has shifted Union away from former head coach Urs Fischer’s ultra-defensive 3-3-2-2 formation, which had persisted for several years, to a more offensive 3-4-3 setup. Recently, he has also experimented with a 4-3-3 formation late in matches to enhance attacking potential.

This tactical adjustment is evidently yielding results. Baumgart emphasized the contributions of his substitutes during the post-match press conference on three separate occasions, leading to anticipation regarding his future match strategies for the squad.

“We know that, as a team, we’re all about the collective and not about the starting XI,” Baumgart stated. “This reflects the morale and mentality of the team. I was pleased with the way we constructed our two goals, highlighting our collective effort.

“It’s crucial to recognize the importance of the players coming off the bench, as they significantly enhance the quality of our play,” he continued. “The starters must work diligently, allowing our substitutes to come on and give their all. This collective spirit is markedly different from the beginning of the season, which aligns with our goals moving forward.”