Marco Antwerpen is no longer a coach at 1. FC Kaiserslautern. According to information from SWR and “Rheinpfalz”, the club has separated from the 50-year-old with immediate effect. More information on this shortly.
Antwerp took over FCK in relegation trouble
Antwerp took over the Red Devils in February 2021 and saved them from falling into the regional league. In his first game as head coach, FCK beat in the Derby Waldhof Mannheim (February 6th, 2021). Lautern finished the season 14th this season he formed the team into a top team after initial difficulties and became a fan favorite as a cheerleader. Most recently, however, he had come under criticism internally, because the team has lost direct promotion with a series of three defeats in a row.
FCK missed out on direct promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga
FCK can only make the leap into the 2nd Bundesliga via the relegation against Dynamo Dresden. Most recently, the Red Devils lost 2-0 at Viktoria Cologne. In an interview with SWR Sport, FCK sports director Thomas Hengen had the performance of the team criticized – especially since Eintracht Braunschweig had lost 2:3 in Meppen the day before. 8,000 fans traveled to Cologne with them. “Full house, so many fans, who unfortunately we disappointed today. That was okay, that was a disappointment, especially the way we performed,” said Hengen.
Antwerp went out of whereabouts
On Tuesday morning, Antwerp had told the “Rheinpfalz” that he expected to remain a coach at FCK. Rumors had previously circulated that Miroslav Klose could follow Antwerp and that there was loose contact with the former FCK striker at the end of April. Antwerp’s adviser Stefan Backs had therefore criticized the club’s management at “Sport1”: “If all of that is true, it is amazing, to say the least, how you deal with a coach who not only saved Lautern from relegation, which was believed to be safe, but also afterwards most successful third division season in history. And this discussion immediately before the promotion games does not exactly show professionalism, “said Backs.
YouTube video from SWR Sport: “Kaiserslautern screwed up in Cologne – Your FCK #31 | SWR Sport”
Source: SWR