Christian Streich will be forever remembered.
Christian Streich's final home game as the coach of SC Freiburg was met with emotional farewells and tributes for his long-term service to the club.
Following the 1:1 draw against 1. FC Heidenheim in the Bundesliga, sporting director Jochen Saier expressed his appreciation for Streich's contributions: "You have shaped an era like few others before you," he said. "All I can do is bow my head, we will never forget you."
After 12 years as the Bundesliga coach of the Baden-based club, Streich's tenure is coming to an end with next Saturday's game against 1. FC Union Berlin. He has been associated with the club for a total of 29 years, joining as a youth player and later transitioning into coaching.
In his final match at home before his departure, he received praise from fans who hailed him as "the best man." Streich expressed his gratitude, visiting the stands and making a lap of honor.
Ahead of the game, Streich shared his approach to managing emotions: "I've built myself a box where everything goes in. Otherwise, you won't be able to handle it, it's been going on for weeks." He acknowledged the challenges of maintaining emotional balance, stating, "If everything works out, we'll go home and cry."
A commemorative banner hung in the stands, thanking Streich and his assistant coach Patrick Baier for their years of dedication: "Thank you Christian and Patrick for all the years full of passion, attitude, and humility." A statement from the fans read, "From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for everything, thank you Christian, thank you Patrick." Similarly, Baier, who is leaving after 25 years at the club, urged that "realistic expectations" for SC Freiburg must be maintained.
Before the game, Streich had prepared himself emotionally for the event: "I've built myself a little box, inside me, and everything goes in there," he shared with pay-TV channel Sky. "Otherwise, you won't make it - it's been going on for weeks."
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Source: www.ntv.de
