Jena, June 1, 2026. The Thuringian Regionalliga club FC Carl Zeiss Jena has made its most important personnel decision for the upcoming season: 53-year-old Marco Grote will be the new head coach at the Kernberge. He succeeds Volkan Uluc and receives a long-term contract until the year 2028.
- Club: FC Carl Zeiss Jena
- New Coach: Marco Grote (53)
- Contract Term: until 2028
- Predecessor: Volkan Uluc
- Start: Preparation for the new Regionalliga season
New Beginning on the Saale: Marco Grote Takes Over
Grote brings extensive experience in professional and youth football to Thüringen. The 53-year-old was active in renowned youth academies for many years and has earned a reputation there as an excellent developer of young talent. At FC Carl Zeiss Jena, he is now expected to build a new, long-term project.
Previous Stations of Marco Grote
The resume of the new Jena head coach includes notable positions in German football:
- 1. FC Union Berlin: Here, Grote worked successfully in the youth department and also took over the Bundesliga team of the Köpenick-based club on an interim basis in November 2023 following the separation from Urs Fischer.
- Werder Bremen: For many years, he shaped the successful development of youth players on the Weser.
- VfL Osnabrück: At the traditional Lower Saxon club, Grote gained valuable experience as head coach in the professional sector of the 2. Bundesliga.
Sporting Classification: Farewell to Volkan Uluc
The signing of Grote ends the speculation regarding the successor to Volkan Uluc. Although Uluc was able to achieve quite appealing sporting results with the team, the club management decided against extending the expiring contract. The background was disagreements between the coach and the officials, which made further cooperation impossible. With the long-term commitment of Marco Grote until 2028, FC Carl Zeiss Jena is now focusing on continuity and a new sporting concept.
🏛️ Tradition at the Kernberge
FC Carl Zeiss Jena plays its home matches at the traditional Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld. The stadium, which has been extensively modernized in recent years, is picturesquely located directly in the Jenaer Paradiespark on the Saale. The club looks back on a history rich in tradition, including reaching the European Cup final in 1981 against Dynamo Tiflis, and is considered one of the sporting flagships of East Germany. With the new coach Marco Grote, the foundation for a successful return to professional football is now to be laid.
Source:
Regionalliga: Marco Grote becomes successor to Volkan Uluc at FC Carl Zeiss Jena
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.