SC Freiburg are preparing for the biggest match in their history, the Europa League final against Aston Villa in Istanbul on Wednesday. Regardless of the result, the club will be greeted by a reception in the city on their return to acknowledge the remarkable season that has taken them there. For a club that has never won a major trophy, reaching such a showpiece is extraordinary, but what makes it even more remarkable is that they have done so without Christian Streich, the legendary coach who stood down in 2024 after nearly three decades at the club.
Streich was a spiritual leader who guided Freiburg from the 2. Bundesliga to regular European qualification, and his successor, Julian Schuster, was chosen with his input. Schuster, a former captain under Streich, has had a sensational first two seasons in his first senior role. Last term, Freiburg missed out on Champions League football on the final day, but this season they have gone one better by reaching the Europa League final, despite losing influential forward Ritsu Doan to Frankfurt. They finished the Bundesliga campaign in fine style, beating third-placed RB Leipzig 4-1 to guarantee seventh place and European football next season.
Schuster has instilled a slight change in style, with Freiburg pressing and tackling more aggressively while still averaging below 50% possession. The team boasts technical quality in players like Matthias Ginter and Vincenzo Grifo, as well as promising youngsters such as Johan Manzambi and Igor Matanovic. The club's modesty endures, with head of scouting Klemens Hartenbach still opening a bottle of champagne when the team reaches 40 points. The farewell to Nicolas Höfler, who made his 382nd appearance at age 36 after joining at 15, epitomised the journey from the second tier to the Europa League final.
