Unfancied Union Berlin found themselves on the verge of a title challenge as they came into 2036 just two points off the top of Bundesliga with multiple games in hand. But could the unlikely challengers maintain their stunning form?
Union Berlin wrapped up back-to-back European campaigns for the first time in club history as they sealed a second successive 7th-place Bundesliga on the final day of 2035/35. And manager Ruprecht Prusseit was excited for the future as he secured the signings of some serious hot prospects.
Some bizarre league form had seen Union Berlin competing towards the top of Bundesliga with a perfect home record and atrocious away record. But a first taste of European football had seen them breeze through an easy set of Europa Conference League league phase matches.
Union Berlin enjoyed a strong second season in Bundesliga as Ruprecht Prusseit's young squad secured a 7th-place finish. At first, Union were told they'd missed out on European football due to Leverkusen winning the cup but, for some reason, Freburg were bumped up to the Europa League and Union took their place in the Europa Conference League.
Union Berlin had made a solid start to their second season back in Bundesliga. But Ruprecht Prusseit was keen to avoid the slump they suffered in the second half of last season after the winter break.
The progression of Ruprecht Prusseit as one of the best young managers around was confirmed as he led an unfancied Union Berlin side to survival in his first season in Bundesliga. But the Dresden-born manager was keen to progress both his managerial abilities and the club he was working with to avoid any suggestion of second-season syndrome.
Union Berlin enjoyed a strong start to manager Ruprecht Prusseit's first-ever season in top-flight football. They'd been as high as fifth in the early stages of Bundesliga and went into the winter break just a few points behind the European places.
Hertha Berlin were on track to secure an immediate return to Bundesliga after manager Ruprecht Prusseit made a solid start to his biggest job so far on his OstDeutscher Sieg journey. But there was plenty of pressure on the Dresden-born boss to make that promotion happen.
Ruprecht Prusseit had cobbled together a squad of freebies and loanees in the summer of 2030 but somehow put together a team potentially capable of mounting a 3. Liga title challenge. Indeed, his Energie Cottbus sat top of 3. Liga heading into 2031.
The unusual decision to join a club in the division below your current club was seemingly working out well for Ruprecht Prusseit, who'd led Energie Cottbus to 18 wins in his first 19 league games in charge. That immediate success saw the Cottbus board move quickly to lock down their prized asset, handing Prusseit a £500 weekly wage increase until the end of the next season.
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