Parensen: From Union Berlin to the championship dream with Sturm Graz!

Parensen: From Union Berlin to the championship dream with Sturm Graz!

Michael Parensen, former player and technical director of the 1st FC Union Berlin, recently celebrated his first championship in professional football with Sturm Graz. May 28, 2025 marks a turning point in his career after the collaboration with Union Berlin has ended. Parensen, who came to Union in 2009, experienced a remarkable climb, both as a player and in his later function as a functional.

After he celebrated the promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga in May 2009 and experienced the first promotion to the Bundesliga with Union on May 27, 2019, the 36-year-old ended his player career with 249 missions and eight goals. In the summer of 2022 he was appointed technical director before the collaboration officially ended in May 2025. "The extraordinary story of Parensen in the club will be remembered," said Dirk Zingler, President of the Association, while Oliver Ruhnert praised his quick familiarization and emphasized that Parensen has given new impulses to the association.

Sturm Graz and the championship

Parensen, who celebrated the championship title with Sturm Graz on Saturday and Sunday, describes his emotions as "pure joy and great relief". The season was exciting until the last second and the support of the fans was extremely positive. His return to work in Graz fell immediately after the celebrations. The first half of the year in Austria turned out to be intensely because he quickly had to adapt to the new environment and the team of coaches. After numerous personnel and structural changes at Sturm Graz, Parensen sees his role as managing director Sport, which includes a broader spectrum of tasks than in his previous position at Union Berlin.

In the Austrian league there is a master round that is held for the top six teams, which is different from the regulations in Germany. The technical and sporting training structure also varies, which Parensen felt. Despite the changes, he looks optimistically into the future. "I have an Union and no resentment," he says, emphasizing that he continues to maintain good contact with former companions in Berlin.

the look ahead

With the title win in Graz, Parensen not only celebrated sporty triumphs, but also plans to enjoy nature in the offseason and possibly hike. This break not only benefits him privately, but also offers the opportunity to concentrate on the upcoming challenges.

The role of sports psychology, as discussed by various clubs in Germany, including companies such as FC St. Pauli, could be another facet in the development of team spirit and mentality in the future. The establishment of sports psychologists in the Bundesliga is considered to expand individual strengths and form a team that could be increasingly important for Parensen as managing director.

The 1. FC Union Berlin and Michael Parensen have officially separated that the permanent memories and mutual respect seem to remain unchanged even after the separation. Both sides want the best for the future, while Parensen is now recognized as a master in Graz.

For further details on this topic you can rbb24 and [FC Union Berlin] (https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/de/meldungen/union-und-michael-parensen-bee-ihre-- The website of the [Sports Psychologists] (https://www.die-sportpsychologists.de/2018/08/sportpsychology-im-profi-fussball- between-trend-und-traeumerei/) offers interesting insights into the role of sports psychology in professional football.