Club pays severance pay
It’s official: 1. FC Köln and Steffen Baumgart are going their separate ways after two and a half years. The 51-year-old had indicated a possible end to his term in office after the 2-0 defeat at Union Berlin on Wednesday evening, and less than 24 hours later the club made the decision, which officially applies at the turn of the year, public. Since the contract was only extended in May until June 30, 2025, a severance payment is reportedly due.
“Steffen and his coaching team did an excellent job during his time at FC. He showed great identification with the FC and our strategic direction – and extended his contract twice despite our many challenges. Even off the pitch, Steffen was always ready to lend a hand and contribute his ideas to the further development of the FC. The chosen path required a lot of strength and conviction from everyone involved, especially from Steffen. After the unsatisfactory course of the season so far, we have exchanged ideas very openly, directly, objectively and respectfully over the past few days and weeks about whether this strength and conviction really still exists to a sufficient extent. It is important to fully respect the fact that Steffen questioned his personal convictions. As a result, we have come to the decision together to end the collaboration – even if it is humanly painful,” said FC managing director Christian Keller in the club’s statement.
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Baumgart took over the club in the summer of 2021 after the successful relegation against Holstein Kiel. In the first year he led the “Effzeh” to seventh place and into the Europa Conference League; in the last season it was enough to reach eleventh place. Also due to the departure of top performers such as Jonas Hector (end of career) and Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt), the club is currently only in 17th place. Ten points after 16 match days have only been undercut once in the club’s history – in the last relegation season of 2017/18. They also failed in the second round of the DFB Cup against 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
1. FC Köln: Baumgart had the “feeling that a change was needed”
Baumgart himself said about his departure: “Everyone can imagine that the decision to leave FC was not easy for me. The club has become home for me over the last two and a half years. What we have achieved here together with the team, my coaching team, but also with the entire club makes me proud. At the same time, that’s also the reason why I now had the feeling that a change was needed. FC is above everything – and although we have invested a lot in the last few weeks and months, the results are lacking. It probably needs a new impulse. It hurts to leave, but I am grateful for the time here and would like to say thank you to everyone at FC with whom I worked with a lot of heart and closeness, especially those responsible, my coaching team, my team and the fans.
It is still unclear who will succeed Baumgart. The “Picture“ brought U21 coach Evangelos Sbonias into play before the official announcement, who is in fourth place in the Regionalliga West with the second representative.
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