1. Early Life and Background
Julian Schuster was born on 15 April 1985 in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Baden-Württemberg, which was then part of West Germany. He holds German nationality.
2. Playing Career
Julian Schuster's playing career spanned over a decade, beginning in youth academies and culminating in a significant tenure as captain of SC Freiburg.
2.1. Youth Career
Schuster developed his football skills within the youth academy system of VfB Stuttgart, a prominent German club. This period was crucial for his formative years in professional football.
2.2. VfB Stuttgart
Schuster began his professional career at VfB Stuttgart. He made his professional debut for the club on 27 October 2007 in a match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Despite his debut, his tenure with the first team was brief, as he only made two appearances before moving on.
2.3. SC Freiburg
In July 2008, Schuster transferred to SC Freiburg, where he would spend the bulk of his playing career. He quickly became an integral part of the team, and on 18 February 2014, he extended his contract for an undisclosed length. From the 2012-13 season, Schuster assumed the role of captain for the club. He primarily played as a defensive midfielder, where he was recognized for his broad field of vision, extensive passing range, and strong fighting spirit. His ability to read the game sometimes allowed him to operate effectively as a sweeper. During his time at Freiburg, he made over 200 official appearances. In May 2018, after a distinguished career with the club, Julian Schuster announced his retirement from professional football.
2.4. Playing Career Statistics
The following table details Julian Schuster's club appearances and goals throughout his playing career:
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| VfB Stuttgart II | 2004-05 | Regionalliga Süd | 7 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 7 | 0 | ||||
| 2005-06 | 13 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 13 | 0 | ||||||
| 2006-07 | 17 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 17 | 3 | ||||||
| 2007-08 | 17 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 18 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 54 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 3 | ||
| VfB Stuttgart | 2007-08 | Bundesliga | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | |
| SC Freiburg II | 2008-09 | Regionalliga Süd | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | |||||
| 2011-12 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||||||
| 2015-16 | Regionalliga Südwest | 5 | 2 | - | - | - | 5 | 2 | ||||||
| Total | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | ||
| SC Freiburg | 2008-09 | 2. Bundesliga | 26 | 6 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 6 | ||||
| 2009-10 | Bundesliga | 28 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 29 | 2 | |||||
| 2010-11 | 26 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 3 | ||||||
| 2011-12 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 22 | 1 | ||||||
| 2012-13 | 31 | 1 | 5 | 0 | - | - | 36 | 1 | ||||||
| 2013-14 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | 32 | 4 | |||||
| 2014-15 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 24 | 1 | ||||||
| 2015-16 | 2. Bundesliga | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 10 | 2 | |||||
| 2016-17 | Bundesliga | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 14 | 0 | |||||
| 2017-18 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 20 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 219 | 17 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 242 | 21 | ||
| Career total | 283 | 22 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 307 | 26 | ||
3. Managerial Career
Following his retirement as a player, Julian Schuster seamlessly transitioned into coaching, steadily progressing through various roles at SC Freiburg before ultimately becoming the head coach.
3.1. Transition to Coaching
Immediately after announcing his retirement from playing in May 2018, Schuster began his coaching career at SC Freiburg. He initially took on the role of a liaison coach, a position designed to bridge the gap between the club's youth teams and the senior squad. Concurrently, he also served as an assistant coach for the first team. In October 2022, he gained experience as a temporary head coach when he, alongside Patrick Baier, stepped in for then-head coach Christian Streich during an Europa League match against FC Nantes, as Streich was sidelined due to COVID-19.
3.2. Coaching Qualifications
Julian Schuster has diligently pursued and obtained high-level coaching accreditations. In January 2023, he successfully completed a course at the DFB to attain the Pro license, which is considered the pinnacle coaching accreditation in German football. He further enhanced his qualifications by acquiring the UEFA Pro Licence in February 2024.
3.3. SC Freiburg Manager
In March 2024, it was officially announced that Julian Schuster would assume the position of head coach for SC Freiburg, starting from the 2024-25 season. He succeeded Christian Streich, who had managed the club for over 12 years, marking a significant transition for Freiburg. Schuster's tenure as head coach officially began on 1 July 2024. His early performance as manager has been notable; in the opening match of the 2024-25 Bundesliga season on 24 August, his team secured a 3-1 victory against local rivals VfB Stuttgart, who had finished second in the previous season. He demonstrated impressive leadership by guiding SC Freiburg to five wins in their first seven league matches.
3.4. Managerial Career Statistics
The following table presents Julian Schuster's managerial record by team and tenure:
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||||
| SC Freiburg | 1 July 2024 | present | 26 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 53.85% | |||
| Total | 26 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 53.85% | |||||
4. Major Achievements and Awards
Julian Schuster's career as a player and manager has been marked by several significant achievements.
As a player, he notably won the 2. Bundesliga title twice with SC Freiburg, first in the 2008-09 season and again in the 2015-16 season. As a manager, his early performance at SC Freiburg has been promising, securing five wins in his first seven league matches, including a decisive victory against local rivals VfB Stuttgart in the opening match of the 2024-25 Bundesliga season.