Steffen Baumgart

A Rostock-born player who captained Union

Steffen Baumgart was born in Rostock on 5 January 1972 [5] [3]. He played for Hansa Rostock, where a 90min commentary counts nearly 200 appearances [14]. He joined Union Berlin in the summer of 2002 and spent two seasons there, with 68 competitive appearances and 22 goals [3]. Union named him its player of the year twice, and he captained the side [4]. From July 2004 to June 2008 he played for Energie Cottbus [5].

Paderborn, then a Cologne job

Before Cologne he had spent more than four years at SC Paderborn [6]. On 11 May 2021, 1. FC Köln announced him as the successor to Friedhelm Funkel, on a contract through 2023 that started on 1 July [6]. Horst Heldt, then Cologne's managing director, called him an emotional leader who suited the club ("ein emotionaler Leader, der sehr gut zum FC passt") [6].

The Cologne spell ended on 21 December 2023. The club announced it the day after a 0:2 defeat at Union Berlin and called it a joint decision. Cologne were 17th with 10 points at the time [7].

Hamburg, then back to Union

Hamburger SV dismissed him on 24 November 2024, one day after a 2:2 draw with Schalke in which HSV had led 2:0 [8]. The club said it needed "a new impulse" after four league games without a win [8].

Union announced on 30 December 2024 that he would succeed Bo Svensson, who had been dismissed after Christmas [4]. It was more than two decades after he had left Union as a player [4]. Horst Heldt, who had brought him to Cologne in 2021, was by then Union's managing director [4]. On taking the job he said he was there "to get it going" ("Ich bin hier, um es ans Laufen zu bringen") [13].

On 14 January 2026 Union extended his contract early. The club did not give the length of the new deal, and Union were ninth after 16 rounds [12]. Baumgart said the club had "created a stable base" to build on and wanted to be successful [12].

The Heidenheim defeat and his dismissal

Union lost 1:3 at Heidenheim, the league's bottom-placed side, on Saturday 11 April 2026 [2]. The club announced his release shortly after midnight [2]. Sporting director Horst Heldt said the performance in Heidenheim was the decisive factor, and that Baumgart was told that evening, before the squad [1]. Heldt praised his work, said he had taken over the team in a difficult situation, and said Baumgart had been given a chance to say goodbye to the players [1].

Assistants Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna also left [1]. U19 coach Marie-Louise Eta took charge until the end of the season [1], and she became the first woman to coach a men's Bundesliga club [2].

Without a club since April

On 22 May 2026 Berliner Kurier reported that he was back in public view six weeks after his dismissal [9]. The same piece said he wanted to get back onto the bench [9]. By 14 June, Berliner Zeitung reported that he had gone more than 60 days without a club [10]. The most recent report we found, dated 23 September 2026, said he was available again and asked where he might go next. It named no club [11].