1. FC Köln: Denis Huseinbasic becomes a stroke of luck thanks to Kickers Offenbach

High-flyers soon in the national team?

In the summer, Denis Huseinbasic came to 1. FC Köln for €50,000 from Kickers Offenbach, where he is now one of the high-flyers of the Bundesliga season. In the last three games in the Oberhaus, the 21-year-old has scored two goals and set up another goal. The midfielder celebrated his debut in the Bundesliga against FC Augsburg (3-2) last matchday. In Bosnia, Huseinbasic has even caught the eye of the national team. A stroke of luck for the “Effzeh”, where the youngster was initially not even on the list.

Rather, Huseinbasic was brought up by ex-club Kickers Offenbach at 1. FC Köln. Ex-OFC managing director Thomas Sobotzik offered it to Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart at the beginning of 2022. “Yes, that’s right. I suggested Baumi to the player,” confirmed the 48-year-old “Bild” newspaper. “As far as I can remember, I sent him a voice message and told him what a great player Denis is. I know Baumi from our times together at Union Berlin.” During their playing days, the two played 30 games together for the “Iron” in the 2003/04 season.

community
Join the discussion about 1. FC KölnThis way!
“It was clear that Denis would go,” Sobotzik continued. Huseinbasic made the leap to the OFC pros in the summer of 2020 and gained a regular place after six months. In a total of 62 games, the central midfielder was directly involved in 16 goals for Offenbach. Huseinbasic is said to have played his way into the notebooks of several professional clubs such as 1. FC Nürnberg – but he was probably not there at first.

To the delight of 1. FC Köln: Kickers Offenbach wanted to “put Huseinbasic in good hands”

“We wanted to put him in good hands before he goes anywhere. That’s why we were sure that he fits Steffen’s playing style. Denis is a guy who gives up his life on the pitch and doesn’t take off,” explained Sobotzik in the direction of Cologne. Baumgart therefore passed on the player’s name to the sporting leadership, which was later able to assert itself in recruiting the regional league talent. Thanks to an exit clause, Huseinbasic also came at a bargain price.

“He has made a very good development,” said Baumgart recently. “We’ll still have a lot of fun with him.” After the game against FC Augsburg, the Cologne coach added: “Denis has a coolness that sometimes surprises even me. You don’t just have to give him praise.”

To home page