Bang at second division giant
Cologne throws out trainers and managers – successor is
Updated on 05.05.2025 – 11:37 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The 1. FC Köln is in second place in the 2nd Bundesliga. However, there is unrest from the promotion aspirant. The club guidance takes action.
What was already leaking on Sunday evening is now official: the 1. FC Köln separates from coach Gerhard Struber and managing director Christian Keller. The traditional club from the Rhineland is in second place in the 2nd Bundesliga, but due to a current result crisis, the rise is in danger, which is why the club leadership has now reacted.
President Werner Wolf said: “Our decision is the result of an in -depth analysis of sporting development in the past few weeks. In view of the still great chance of the direct return, we have to do everything we can to use this opportunity.”
The club does not want to rely on the results of the competition. “The team has to reflect on their own strength for the last two games. It now needs new impulses. We have not seen them anymore,” said Wolf.
Cologne has 55 points in the account after 32 games. What would not have been enough for the climb in previous years is a good starting point for promotion this season. But in the past five games, Cologne could only win one victory. The pursuers from Elversberg and Paderborn put pressure on them, only have three points less on the account. Therefore, the nervousness at the club was greater.
The Keller successor is to be clarified in summer, and Thomas Kessler, as sports director, will temporarily take over the sporting management. Friedhelm Funkel follows Gerhard Struber. The 71-year-old is supposed to lead two season games to the Bundesliga in the final.
Funkel, who had already stepped in at the 1st FC Köln shortly before the end of the season and achieved the season goal (relegation in the Bundesliga), has plenty of experience. As a record promotion coach of German professional football, he led six teams to the Bundesliga – a balance that no one has been able to imitate him so far.