The 1. FC Köln pulls the ripcord before the exciting promotion final of the 2nd Bundesliga. For trainer Gerhard Struber, coaching legend Friedhelm Funkel takes over. The 71-year-old is supposed to bring the wobbling reappearance over the stage. Funkel was most surprised by his return.
Friedhelm Funkel himself did not expect that he was again on the podium as a coach of 1st FC Köln this Monday. “But things happen in football that nobody thinks is possible. I also did not think that was possible until yesterday, then the call came,” said Funkel when he was presented in Cologne.
He didn’t have to think long, the FC is a matter of the heart for sparkle. “I slept well and said this morning: I do it,” said Funkel.
It will be the third term on the Rhine for the coaching routine. Most recently, he had swung the scepter in 2021 and secured the class with the FC in the relegation against Holstein Kiel. Previously, he had trained the Domstädter from 2002 to 2003.
And one thing is clear: climbing can. With six Bundesliga ascents, he holds a coaching stamp.
At 1. FC Köln he is initially sitting on the sidelines for two games – possibly also in two relegation games if the third party FC becomes.
Two game days before the end, the Effzeh is in second place in the table and is three points ahead of the pursuers Elversberg and Paderborn.
“I’m really looking forward to this task. I know what to expect. I trust the team that they rose directly,” said Funkel.
On Friday the team travels to the 1. FC Nürnberg, on the last match day the Funkelf team may be about everything for his ex-team 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
The first goal is to convey the team “looseness, lightness and a certain self -confidence”: “Then we will be in the first Bundesliga at the end of the season. That is my goal, and I want to achieve that by all means,” says Funkel.
After the weak 1-1 against the bottom of Regensburg and the devastating fan reactions, the second division team reacted and released both coach Gerhard Struber and sports director Christian Keller on Sunday.