Comfortable appearance on the start of office: Lukas Kwasniok started with a saying show at 1. FC Köln and evokes memories of Steffen Baumgart.
When Lukas Kwasniok came to the stage of the press conference at the RheinEnergieStadion shortly before 2 p.m., the next era of a head coach began at the 1st FC Köln. However, this should last longer than that of its predecessors. Timo Schultz had only lasted five months, Gerhard Struber ten.
Kwasniok, on the other hand, showed up immediately on Wednesday, is another type again. Open, quick -witted and with a clear idea of what awaits him in Cologne – and what FC and his fans expect from him. “My great-grandma was located here in Cologne,” said the 44-year-old. “It would be a lie if I said that I would have slept in FC bed linen. But if you are not entirely stupid, you let yourself be hugged and infiltrated by this city.”
Kwasniok’s anticipation was tangible. The coach, born in Gleiwitz/Poland – like Lukas Podolski – actually wanted to take a break at the end of the past season. But then three days after the last matchday, a WhatsApp came from an unknown number – from Thomas Kessler. The FC sports director want to talk. “I called back immediately, but he didn’t rose,” said Kwasniok with a laugh.
“He was the first coach I contacted,” said Kessler. From the outset, Kwasniok was the Cologne desired coach, and after several long conversations, it was agreed. Kessler had already dealt with Kwasniok when he had made headlines at the 1st FC Saarbrücken and then followed Steffen Baumgart in Paderborn. Now Kwasniok follows Baumgart again – albeit at a year and a half delay.
When Baumgart took over FC in 2021, he immediately led the club from the relegation to Europe. The FC fans experienced two years of astonishing success under the popular trainer before the crash started again. Now Kwasniok should and wants to build on these successes-even if he does not want to see himself as a tree gart double. “At first glance we are similar,” said Kwasniok. “We are not the greatest, the sporting activity was a few days ago if you at least look at my physical constitution.”
But then the differences would stop. “There are already differences in terms of dealing with a team and the football -specific approach,” said Kwasniok, making it clear: “There was a Baumi 1.0 – and now there is a Luki 1.0. If we will be as successful in the end as under Baumi, we all take our arms and say: cool time.”
That is why Kwasniok made it clear that he would be about “stabilizing the FC in the Bundesliga in Cologne”. And he would like to “land in front of Gladbach next season”. The FC fans should also hear that, who can also look forward to seeing a head coach that is open to the city and people again at the goat.
Because Kwasniok also made it clear that he consciously chose Cologne and FC. “The club is emotional, I am emotional-so that could fit well,” said the 44-year-old. On July 7th, the followers can convince themselves for the first time if the team will be on the lawn for the training session at the Geißbockheim.