SC Freiburg — around the 2016/17 season

Brief summary:

• Head coach: Christian Streich (in charge since December 2011; noted for a long tenure, emphasis on youth development and an organized, hard-working team ethic)
• Competition (2016/17): Bundesliga
• League finish (2016/17): 7th place in the Bundesliga; this position led to qualification for the 2017/18 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds
• Home stadium: Schwarzwald-Stadion (often referred to by its traditional name, Dreisamstadion at the time) — capacity roughly 24,000

Key squad figures and contributors (season around 2016/17):

• Nils Petersen — principal striker and important goalscorer for the team
• Vincenzo Grifo — attacking midfielder/winger who provided creativity and set-piece threat
• Maximilian Philipp — forward/attacking option who attracted attention from bigger clubs after strong performances
• Matthias Ginter — versatile defender who was an integral part of the back line that season
• Alexander Schwolow — first-choice goalkeeper
• Christian Günter — regular left back and academy graduate, important in both defense and attack down the flank

Playing style and club identity:

• Under Christian Streich, Freiburg combined tactical organization, compact defending and quick transitions; the club placed a strong emphasis on developing academy players and integrating them into the first team.
• The 2016/17 campaign was viewed as a successful continuation of that model, with Freiburg outperforming expectations and earning European qualification for the following season.

Other notes:

• Christian Streich is widely respected in Germany for his longevity, player development and pragmatic, team-focused approach.
• The Europa League qualification after the 2016/17 season was a notable achievement for a relatively small club with limited resources compared with many Bundesliga rivals.