Following a 2-3 loss at Rot-Weiss Essen, SSV Ulm 1846 heads into the winter break in third-to-last place in the 3. Liga. A new coach is expected to turn things around.

Two goals weren’t enough: Following their latest 2-3 loss to Rot-Weiss Essen, SSV Ulm 1846 once again finds itself in acute danger of relegation. The Spatzen are in 18th place in the 3rd Division and could find themselves back in the Regionalliga just as quickly as they were promoted from it.

Just before Christmas, SSV has now bolstered its central defense. Niko Vukancic, who was a free agent, joins the Spatzen to strengthen the central defense. The 23-year-old has signed with the club on the Danube until June 30, 2027.

“With Niko, we’re getting a robust center back who should help stabilize our defense. The quality he brings is a good foundation, even though he hasn’t played much recently. He knows the league and our coach, which will help him settle in quickly,” said Ulm’s managing director Stephan Schwarz.

The center back was trained in the youth academies of Hannover 96 and VfL Wolfsburg. He then played for HSC Hannover and Fortuna Düsseldorf II before moving to FC Erzgebirge Aue. Most recently, he was under contract with MFK Skalica in Slovakia; he had been without a club since September.

Niko Vukancic brings experience from 42 games in the 3rd Division and 45 Regional League matches to the Danube. He made one appearance in the 2nd Bundesliga. At SSV Ulm 1846, Niko Vukancic will wear the number three jersey.

“I’d like to thank the club for their trust and am very happy to be here in Ulm. Together with the team, I want to give it my all to help us avoid relegation. I’m really excited to take on this challenge at a club with such a rich tradition,” the defender said of his new role.

And it’s a huge one. The gap to safety—specifically FC Erzgebirge Aue (22 points)—currently stands at six points. After the winter break, the Spatzen face SV Wehen Wiesbaden on Saturday, January 17, at 2 p.m.