Coach out after 3:3 against Gladbach
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1. FC Köln has fired coach Lukas Kwasniok. The Bundesliga club confirmed this on Sunday evening. The media had previously reported unanimously on this development. The 44-year-old was informed of his exit one day after the 3-3 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach. It had previously been written on Sunday that sports director Thomas Kessler wanted to bring about a change in the coaching position. At 3 p.m. the committees met for consultation – and sealed the coach’s end. Kwasniok’s time as head coach ended after just 29 games with a points average of exactly 1.0.
The previous assistant coach René Wagner (37) will be on the Cologne sidelines on an interim basis. Kwasniok’s assistant Frank Kaspari was also relieved of his duties. According to reports, Kwasniok will receive a severance payment worth millions after leaving the cathedral towns.
This is how 1. FC Cologne explains the departure of coach Kwasniok
“On Sunday we looked very intensively at our current situation and came to the decision to give impetus to the head coach position for the final phase of the season. Lukas’ football knowledge and his professional expertise are undisputed. He prepared our team for the games with great care and commitment. Despite passionate and decent performances, there has been a clear downward trend in our development recently. We have not scored enough points – that is the reality. Against this background, after intensive analysis, we have come to the decision, Lukas “We thank him for his work at FC and wish him all the best for his future career,” said FC managing director Kessler, explaining the move.
Kessler continued: “We are convinced that René, together with our coaching team and the team, will achieve our goal. Our team has the quality, the mentality and the necessary willingness to achieve this. We have known and valued René as a proven football expert since his first engagement with us as an assistant coach. In the meantime, he has gained valuable experience at Hamburger SV and Union Berlin, in his role with us since the start of the season and through the acquisition of the UEFA Pro License in England. He knows the team and has good access to the players and we have absolute confidence in him to turn the existing good performance into positive results again.”
After the draw in the derby against Gladbach, Kessler avoided making a clear commitment to Kwasniok. “I’ll sleep on it for one night. We’ll relax towards the weekend and then we’ll think about it,” said Kessler on “Sky”. The disappointment is great.
Kwasniok himself had advertised himself in the stadium’s catacombs. “The most important thing when you have a coach in a club is the conviction of the colleague who is in front of the team. I can only say: you first have to find someone who has more conviction,” said the 44-year-old. “I feel that in the team. We are a team, one hundred percent.”
Kwasniok: “I will fight for this damn job”
Kwasniok also said: “I will fight for this damn job here with everything I have. Because I am absolutely convinced: I am the right man in the right place with the right team in the right club.” He feels the support of those responsible “one hundred percent”.
Kessler had previously stated that it was not about making a decision today (Saturday; editor). “But we have to make adjustments so that we can be successful. And what they will look like is an open question.” Kwasniok, who came from second division club Paderborn, took over from Cologne before this season.
1. FC Köln slipped in the Bundesliga
The one point against Mönchengladbach was not enough, said Kessler. He had to compliment the team for coming back strongly after the 0-1 defeat in the first minute. “But that accompanies us throughout the entire season. We have reached a time where we have to get a three-pointer again.”
Cologne slipped down in the table after their seventh winless game in a row. On Sunday, FC St. Pauli can move the newcomers to relegation place 16 with a home win against SC Freiburg. “We can all read the table. I think we can now analyze it objectively and rationally. There is great disappointment that we only got one point,” said Kessler.
Kwasniok appeared to be relaxed after the final whistle. “Everything is as usual, we let things sink in and then we discuss the content,” he said with a smile. “Of course, when you’re fighting to stay in the league, it’s always viewed differently. I do it with dedication, with love for the club. I’m assuming that it will be over in the middle or end of May – for this season.”
This article has been updated following official confirmation.
