Who Is Dirk Zingler? Wiki, Biography, Wife, Net Worth, Age, Height, Family & Career
Dirk Zingler is not a household name in the world of football, but he is the man who has transformed Union Berlin from a struggling second-tier club to a Bundesliga sensation and a European contender. He has been the president of Union Berlin since 2004, and is also a successful entrepreneur who owns a construction logistics company with 300 employees. He is married and has three children.
Dirk Zingler Wiki/Bio
| Name | Dirk Zingler |
|---|---|
| Birth date | August 23, 1964 |
| Birth place | Königs Wusterhausen, Germany |
| Ethnicity | German |
| Nationality | German |
| Religion | Christian (Evangelical) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur and football club president |
| Company | Zingler Gruppe |
| Club | Union Berlin |
| Family | Married with three children |
| Links | Instagram- #dirkzingler Homepage- Newsunzip |
Biography
Dirk Zingler was born on August 23, 1964 (age: 59 years, as of 2023), in Königs Wusterhausen, a town in the state of Brandenburg, near Berlin. He grew up in a working-class family and developed a passion for football at an early age. He played for various youth teams in his hometown and supported Union Berlin, which was then known as BSG Motor Köpenick, a club affiliated with the state-owned motor industry.
Dirk Zingler attended a polytechnic high school and graduated as a maintenance technician. He then served in the National People’s Army, the armed forces of East Germany, for two years. After his military service, he worked as a mechanic for the state railway company.
Entrepreneurial Career
In 1990, after the reunification of Germany, he decided to start his own business. He founded a company called Zingler Transporte, which specialized in transporting construction materials and equipment. He started with a single truck and gradually expanded his fleet and clientele. He also diversified his services to include waste disposal, recycling, and demolition.
In 1995, he renamed his company Zingler Logistik and moved its headquarters to Schönefeld, near the Berlin Brandenburg Airport. He also acquired several other companies in the construction sector and formed a group called Zingler Gruppe, which employs around 300 people and generates an annual turnover of about 40 million euros.
Dirk Zingler is known for his innovative and sustainable approach to his business. He has invested in modern and environmentally friendly vehicles and equipment, such as electric trucks, hybrid excavators, and solar panels. He has also implemented a quality management system and obtained various certifications and awards for his company.
Height, Weight
- Height: 175 cm
- Weight: 65 kg
- Eye color: Brown
- Body measurements: Chest 40 inches, Waist 32 inches, Biceps 14 inches
- Skin color: Tan
Net Worth
| 2023 | 10 million USD (estimated) |
Football Career
Dirk Zingler love for Union Berlin never faded, even when the club faced financial and sporting difficulties in the 1990s and 2000s. He became a member of the club in 1994 and joined its board of directors in 2000. He was elected as the president of the club in 2004, succeeding Jürgen Schlebrowski, who had resigned due to health reasons.
Zingler’s vision for Union Berlin was to make it a club that represents the values and identity of its fans and its city. He wanted to preserve the club’s tradition of being a grassroots and community-oriented club, while also making it more professional and competitive. He also wanted to improve the club’s infrastructure and facilities, especially its stadium, the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, which had been the club’s home since 1920.
Becoming President of The Club
Zingler’s presidency coincided with some of the most memorable and historic moments in the club’s history. In 2008, he led a campaign called “We’re selling our soul, but not our stadium”, in which the club’s fans donated blood and sold the blood plasma to raise money for the renovation of the stadium. The fans also volunteered to help with the construction work, contributing more than 140,000 hours of labor. The renovated stadium, which has a capacity of 22,012, was inaugurated in 2009 and is considered one of the most atmospheric and fan-friendly stadiums in Germany.
In 2009, he also oversaw the club’s promotion to the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of German football, after winning the 3. Liga, the third tier. The club had been relegated to the fourth tier in 2005 and had spent four seasons in the third tier. The promotion was celebrated with a parade through the streets of Berlin, which attracted more than 100,000 fans.
In 2011, Zingler witnessed one of the most emotional and dramatic matches in the club’s history, when Union Berlin faced Hertha BSC, their city rivals, in the 2. Bundesliga. The match, which was the first Berlin derby in the second tier since 1953, ended in a 1-1 draw, but Union Berlin won the penalty shootout 4-3, thanks to a save by their goalkeeper Daniel Haas. The match was also notable for the fact that both teams wore jerseys with the slogan “Berlin United – We’re Kicking Racism Out of the Stadiums”, as a sign of solidarity against racism and discrimination.
In 2019, he achieved his biggest dream as the president of Union Berlin, when the club secured its first-ever promotion to the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football. The club finished third in the 2. Bundesliga and faced VfB Stuttgart, who finished 16th in the Bundesliga, in a two-legged playoff. The first leg ended in a 2-2 draw in Stuttgart, while the second leg ended in a 0-0 draw in Berlin. Union Berlin won the playoff on away goals and became the 56th club to play in the Bundesliga. The promotion sparked wild celebrations among the fans, who stormed the pitch and lifted Zingler in the air.
In 2020, he led the club through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the Bundesliga to suspend its season for two months and resume it behind closed doors. he was one of the first club presidents to propose a plan to allow fans to return to the stadium, by offering free coronavirus tests to all ticket holders. However, the plan was rejected by the local health authorities, who imposed strict limits on the number of spectators allowed. Despite the lack of fans, Union Berlin managed to finish 11th in their debut Bundesliga season, securing their survival with two games to spare.
In 2021, Dirk Zingler reached another milestone in his presidency, when Union Berlin qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League, the third tier of European club football, by finishing seventh in the Bundesliga. It was the club’s first-ever qualification for a European competition and the highest league finish in its history. He praised the team and the coach, Urs Fischer, for their remarkable achievement and thanked the fans for their unwavering support.
Personal Life
Zingler is married and has three children, two sons and a daughter. He lives in a villa in Schönefeld, near his company’s headquarters. He is a devout Christian and a member of the Evangelical Church in Germany. He is also a philanthropist and a supporter of various social and charitable causes, such as education, health, and sports. He has donated money and equipment to schools, hospitals, and youth clubs in his hometown and in Berlin. He has also established a foundation, called the Dirk Zingler Foundation, which aims to promote the development of young footballers and coaches in Germany.
He is a modest and humble man, who does not seek fame or publicity. He rarely gives interviews or attends social events. He prefers to spend his free time with his family and friends, or watching football matches. He is also an avid reader and a fan of classical music. He has a collection of books and CDs in his home library.
Zingler is widely respected and admired by the Union Berlin fans, who regard him as one of their own. He is often seen mingling with the fans in the stadium, singing songs, and cheering for the team. He is also appreciated by the players and the staff, who value his leadership and his vision. He is considered one of the most influential and successful club presidents in Germany.
Dirk Zingler is a remarkable man who has achieved great success in both his business and his football career. He is the man who has made Union Berlin one of the most popular and respected clubs in Germany, while also running a thriving construction logistics company. He is a man who loves his club, his city, and his people. He is a man who has a dream and a passion, and who works hard to make them come true.
