Union Berlin players were hoisted high and carried around their stadium after securing promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time on Monday.
A goalless draw at home to Stuttgart in the second leg of their play-off was enough for the Köpenick-based club, which finished third in the second division. Union defended for almost the whole game and progressed to the top flight on away goals after their 2-2 first-leg draw in Stuttgart.
Thousands of fans covered the pitch in scenes of unbridled joy at Union’s cosy stadium after the final whistle, lighting flares, hugging, jumping and cheering, with many capturing the occasion on their phones. The fans savoured their club’s greatest achievement, arguably even bigger than winning the East German Cup in 1968.
The Union coach, Urs Fischer, was promptly drenched in a beer shower while the club president Dirk Zingler was unable to hold back the tears. “I’ve been in this club for 40 years. I’ve waited for this day for so long,” Zingler said.
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