Jena, June 3, 2026. FC Carl Zeiss Jena is setting the course for the upcoming Regionalliga season and has signed Marco Grote as the new head coach. The former interim coach of the Bundesliga club 1. FC Union Berlin succeeds Volkan Uluc at the Kernbergen.
- Who: Marco Grote (new head coach), Volkan Uluc (outgoing coach), FC Carl Zeiss Jena
- What: Coaching change for the 2026/2027 Regionalliga season
- When: Announced on June 1, 2026
- Goal: Promotion to the 3. Liga
Career of the new coach: A portrait of Marco Grote
Bremen-born Marco Grote brings diverse experience from both youth and professional levels to Thüringen. After his active playing career, which took him to the reserves of Werder Bremen, FC Bremerhaven, VfB Oldenburg, and Hamburger SV, he transitioned into coaching. Starting in 2008, he was active for many years in the youth academy of Werder Bremen.
His first station in professional men’s football followed in the 2020/21 season with the then second-division side VfL Osnabrück. After a brief engagement abroad with the Greek first-division club Apollon Smyrnis in early 2022, he moved to 1. FC Union Berlin. At the Alte Försterei, he managed the U19s but stepped into the spotlight twice as interim head coach of the professionals. Together with assistant coach Marie-Louise Eta, he succeeded in stabilizing the team in the Bundesliga and ultimately securing league survival. Following the end of his engagement in the summer of 2025, the move to the Saale follows after a one-year break.
Sporting context: The legacy of Volkan Uluc
The shoes Grote is stepping into are sportingly demanding. His predecessor, Volkan Uluc, had already announced during the second half of the season that he would not renew his expiring contract in Jena. The 56-year-old leaves behind a strong team that has just completed an excellent season. In the end, FC Carl Zeiss Jena narrowly missed the division title in the Regionalliga Nordost and the associated promotion play-off for the 3. Liga – a difference of only five goals was the deciding factor compared to the competition.
The sporting management of the FCC hopes that the signing of Grote will provide the decisive impulse to achieve promotion to professional football in the coming season. His experience in developing young players and his proven resilience from the Bundesliga are intended to give the Thüringen side the necessary advantage in the tough battle for promotion.
🏛️ History & Buildings: Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld
The home ground of FC Carl Zeiss Jena, the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld in the Jenaer Paradies, looks back on a history rich in tradition. Named after the physicist and social reformer Ernst Abbe, the stadium was inaugurated as early as 1924. It was the scene of numerous historic football moments, including the legendary European Cup nights of the FCC in the 1970s and 1980s. In recent years, the arena has been extensively modernized to meet the requirements of modern professional football.
Source:
FC Carl Zeiss Jena: Marco Grote succeeds Volkan Uluc
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.