The 1. FC Köln relies on Friedhelm Funkel in the promotion race. With an ascent, Funkel would expand its own record.
Friedhelm Funkel had already committed: “Cologne and the HSV rise directly”said the 71-year-old in early January the “Bild am Sonntag”. “It is the best squad of the league.” At the beginning of May, it looks as if the radio is being right. Because two game days before the end of the season in the 2nd Bundesliga, HSV and FC take place one and two.
What Funkel has probably not yet guessed in January is that he himself would actively intervene in the promotion race. But on Monday May 5th, 2025) the 1. FC Köln Funkel officially presented as a new coach. He follows Gerhard Struber, who had to take his hat off after the disappointing 1: 1 against Jahn Regensburg.
FC before demanding Remaining program
The FC is still three points ahead of the pursuers SV Elversberg and SC Paderborn, but the form curve recently pointed down. From the past five games, the Cologne team only scored five points (one victory, two draws, two defeats). With games against 1. FC Nürnberg (09.05.2025, 6.30 p.m.) and the 1st FC Kaiserslautern (May 18, 3:30 p.m.), the remaining program is also quite demanding.
With Struber on the sidelines, the FC managers increasingly saw the promotion in danger. That is why the Cologne team now rely on a real promotion expert. Because no trainer has risen to the Bundesliga as often as Friedhelm Funkel.
Funke has been up six times
The 71-year-old with five different clubs rose from the second to the first league six times. In 1992 and 1994 he led Bayer Uerdingen to the upper house, in 1996 he managed this with the MSV Duisburg. In 2003 he rose with 1. FC Köln, in 2005 with Eintracht Frankfurt. Funkel celebrated his last climb so far with Fortuna Düsseldorf.
In 2003 Friedhelm Funkel (right), here with manager Andreas Rettig, led the 1. FC Köln to the Bundesliga.
He is also good at keeping clubs as a rescuer in the class – for example the 1. FC Köln, which he preserved in 2021 about the relegation from the Bundesliga descent. In 2024 he took over the 1st FC Kaiserslautern shortly before the end of the season, held the Palatinate in the 2nd league and even led them to the DFB Cup final.
Sparkling Success factors: Realism and authenticity
But what is Funkel’s secret? His success factors are simple: he relies on realism and authenticity. “I always tell board members the truth about their club – not what they want to hear”he said in an interview with the magazine “11freunde”.
Funkel calculates soberly and thus sets realistic goals. He is considered a calm, experienced pragmatist who can stabilize the team. Heribert Bruchhagen, former CEO of Eintracht Frankfurt, formulates it: “Friedhelm gets the ideal out of every team.”
Funkel is particularly important to the team unity. The cabin must be a wagon castle, he said. “We are not interested in what is written about us or comes out of criticism. The cabin is under retreat. This includes not publicly criticizing ourselves.” Instead “We have to tell ourselves the truth in the cabin”.
Team spirit as a key
Team spirit is the key for the 71-year-old: “No success without a functioning cabin!” Here Funkel wants to go ahead with its own example: “I remained authentic. Only those who admit mistakes also enjoy respect in the long run too”he said “11 friends”.
They now hope for all of this in Cologne. It is Funkel’s third term at FC. So he doesn’t need much getting used to. “The FC is and remains a matter close to my heart “said Funkel on Monday. “From now on, it’s about mobilizing everything in the remaining two games, finding the belief in your own strength and creating the climb together.”
It would be Funkel’s number seven – and the expansion of his own record.
