Decision is approaching
This is how things should continue in the coaching position at 1. FC Cologne
May 6, 2026 – 11:03 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
1. FC Köln is practically certain of staying in the league after last weekend – and has apparently already made an important personnel decision in the coaching position.
Wagner apparently enjoys a lot of trust internally, especially from sports director Thomas Kessler. The FC sees the former assistant coach as one of the most promising German coaching talents and particularly values his work with the team. Under Wagner, Cologne managed to stabilize themselves in the relegation battle and score the crucial points to stay in the league.
In terms of sport, the balance sheet is solid: in five games under Wagner there was only one defeat, plus three draws the important home win against Werder Bremen. The fact that the team regularly scored points is rated more highly internally than the lack of playful development. “René has always scored, with the exception of the good game against Leverkusen. That’s certainly not bad for us,” Kessler recently explained after the 2-2 draw at Union Berlin.
However, the decisive factor for the planned promotion should not only be athletic stabilization. Those responsible particularly value Wagner’s internal communication and his interaction with the team. Especially after the sometimes difficult months under his predecessor Kwasniok, the 37-year-old is considered a coach who has brought more calm and clarity into everyday life.
The fact that Wagner doesn’t always appear confident in public and that there haven’t been any big leaps in football terms seems to play only a minor role internally. Rather, the coach should be given the opportunity to grow together with the club and to actively shape the next big change in the summer.
Because at FC there are again major changes in the squad. Several players are likely to leave the club, and at the same time the team is to be specifically strengthened. Those responsible apparently trust Wagner to moderate and accompany this process.
