News blog about 1. FC Cologne
Baumgart calls Wagner: “He’s known me long enough”
Updated March 24, 2026 – 5:51 p.mReading time: 29 minutes
1. FC Köln is fighting to stay in the Bundesliga. In the news blog on t-online you will find all the important news about the Geißbockheim.
Should René Wagner become head coach of the… 1. FC Cologne If he is successful, he will meet his former sponsor Steffen Baumgart on matchday 32. Wagner and Baumgart worked together in Paderborn, Cologne, Hamburg and Berlin between 2020 and 2025 before Wagner moved back to 1. FC Köln.
Now the 37-year-old has been promoted to head coach as Lukas Kwasniok’s successor – and Baumgart was one of the first to congratulate him. “We spoke on the phone,” Wagner reported on Tuesday. “Steffen told me to stay with myself. He’s known me long enough now.”
Baumgart warned him that Wagner would have to make more unpleasant decisions as head coach than in his position as assistant coach. “He said that my new role will open up a few different subject areas. There are one or two topics that I have had to work on that I didn’t have to worry about before,” said Wagner.
If Wagner successfully completes the first tests in his new role, he could see Baumgart again on the first weekend in May at the Alte Försterei. But first the billy goats hope that Wagner will achieve their first victories since January against Frankfurt and Bremen.
After the dismissal of Lukas Kwasniok, 1. FC Köln expanded the coaching team on Monday to include interim coach René Wagner. The Billy Goats announced the signing of Armin Reutershahn. The 66-year-old is a Bundesliga veteran and will use his experience to support the 37-year-old Wagner.
“Armin brings a lot of experience as an assistant coach and will support René in his daily work with the team with his professional expertise and the knowledge he has gained in his numerous positions,” said FC managing director Thomas Kessler.
