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18.03.2024Bayer 04

Bayer 04 pays tribute to departing Christian Streich

After 29 years as a coach at Freiburg, 12 of them in charge of the first team, Christian Streich is leaving the club at the end of this season, as he announced on Monday. “This club is my life and I’m grateful for the great support and affection I’ve enjoyed here. Now is the right time to give space for new energy, new people and new possibilities,” the 58-year-old said. Streich has also been held in high esteem at Bayer 04 for many years. Officials in Leverkusen have given their reaction to Streich’s departure.
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Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO: “Continuity at a high level is a success factor in football. Christian Streich and his work for Freiburg are an excellent example of this. It's a shame that he's leaving. But after all those gruelling years in the football business, it's also a step that you have to understand, and that deserves respect.”

Xabi Alonso, Bayer 04 head coach: “Twenty-nine years at one club is an incredibly long time. I'm grateful to have met Christian Streich in a few games. Each of these encounters was characterised by enormous mutual respect. The fact that he has now decided to retire after the season is a great pity, but at the same time absolutely understandable in this demanding job. I wish Christian all the best for the future and for his time with his family.”

Thomas Eichin, director of professional teams at Bayer 04: “As a native of Freiburg, I have known Christian Streich for a very long time and we used to play together in the same team. For me, he has always been an extraordinary and sincere person full of empathy who consistently exemplifies his values. This remarkable greatness is also evident in his departure after such a long and successful career in Freiburg.”

Xabi Alonso und Christian Streich

29 years as a coach at Freiburg

Streich played for Freiburg in the 1987/88 season. He re-joined in 1995 as a youth coach, leading the U19s to the Bundesliga title in 2008. He also worked as assistant to the first team from summer 2007 before joining the senior squad full time for the 2011/12 campaign. Streich was then appointed head coach midway through the season, since which the 58-year-old has taken charge of 711 competitive fixtures. He led Freiburg to promotion as Bundesliga 2 champions in 2016, to the DFB Cup final in 2022, and earned European qualification four times.

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