After nearly 30 years at the club, Freiburg coach Christian Streich bid an emotional farewell to his home crowd with a 1-1 draw against Heidenheim. The journey between Streich and the team will officially end next Saturday after the final match against Union Berlin. Fans celebrated with a fan fest and special Streich shirts, showing their appreciation for the coach’s 488 games in charge, including 195 wins.
The atmosphere in Freiburg was filled with emotion as fans honored Streich’s dedication and loyalty. He was visibly moved during the pre-match celebrations, and even former Germany coach Joachim Löw praised Streich’s qualities of humility, discipline, and loyalty. Despite an early lead from Doan, Heidenheim equalized through Sessa to deny Streich a perfect send-off. Freiburg had several chances to score, but luck was not on their side.
Although Freiburg may miss out on European qualification depending on other results, the focus was on honoring Streich’s legacy. Captain Christian Günter and the team aimed to give their coach a successful farewell with three points, but settled for a draw. Streich’s passion and determination were evident as he urged both his team and the fans on until the final whistle, making his last home game a memorable and emotional occasion.