1. FC Köln – Kessler on Urbig’s future: “Part of our licensed team in the summer”

Fürth loan players in focus

“It’s all in the future,” explained Fürth keeper Jonas Urbig last week in the big Transfermarkt interview when asked about a return to parent club 1. FC Köln next summer. His strong performance at the start of the second half of the season against Paderborn brought the 20-year-old numerous headlines during the week. SCP coach Lukas Kwasniok, for example, described Urbig as a “future national goalkeeper” who had no place in the second division. Now Cologne’s head of licenses, Thomas Kessler, commented on the cathedral city’s plans for their own plant.

Jonas Urbig spoke in the big Transfermarkt interview in January 2024.

The 38-year-old former professional is, among other things, responsible for the loan players of the Bundesliga club, which is in relegation trouble. “The loan from Jonas is absolutely worth it for us. Jonas is a great talent and we firmly assume that he will be part of our licensed team in the summer,” said Kessler. Urbig had secured the victory of the game association against Paderborn with a saved penalty and numerous saves, which maintained its place in the extended circle of promotion candidates as fourth place (in the table of the 2nd Bundesliga). No keeper from the German professional leagues had a better clean sheet rate during the first half of the season than the U21 national goalkeeper, for whom quite a few experts predict a promising future. Only FC St. Pauli has conceded fewer goals than Fürth so far.

When looking at these positive statistics, however, “one should not forget that it is always a team success and that I have a team in front of me that works really well against the ball and therefore allows few chances,” said Urbig in the TM interview let it be known and emphasized that he currently feels very comfortable with his loan club due to several factors. When asked about his future from the summer onwards, the youngster remained tight-lipped: “These are things that will happen in six months. We still have 17 match days to play here in Fürth, and that is my entire focus. And anything beyond that, I don’t worry about.”

In an interview with TM, Urbig confirmed that he was in regular contact with Kessler. He has also been concerned about the sporting downward trend of the Domstädter team, where his contract runs until 2026, from a distance in recent months, but he is optimistic about the future: “I know how hard the whole team is working on it and how The previous coach Steffen Baumgart also worked hard to ensure that there was an upward trend again. It’s really very bitter and a shame – but there are still 17 match days to play. That’s why I’m confident that they can turn things around in the second half of the season.”

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