Mission of despair in Cologne
This trainer search “is about survival”
December 28, 2023, 7:24 p.m
The starting situation is threatening, time is short: Who will get involved in the delicate mission at FC Köln? The Bundesliga club, which is threatened with relegation, is desperately looking for a successor to coach Steffen Baumgart. It’s all about Effzeh.
The delicate search for a new coach continues at 1. FC Cologne. The penultimate place in the table, the transfer ban imposed by the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for the next two transfer periods and the financial bottlenecks at FC are likely to deter many candidates. In view of this gloomy scenario, Friedhelm Funkel’s concern for his former club is growing. “You have to say it so clearly: It is now about the survival of 1. FC Köln,” said the 70-year-old football teacher to the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger” and described the job of Baumann’s successor as a “Herculean task”.
Ideally, the rescuer should be found in an emergency by the start of training on January 2nd. This personality is of central importance. After all, it is the only adjustment screw that Cologne can still adjust after the transfer ban until January 2025. “The CAS verdict is a catastrophe. Especially when you have your back against the wall and should actually strengthen the team,” complained football pensioner Funkel, who saved Cologne from relegation in 2021. “The task of staying in the league will be extremely difficult. But it can and must succeed – otherwise FC will face even more difficult, troubled times.”
The growing criticism of the club’s management is making attempts to limit the damage more difficult. According to Horst Heldt, FC “missed the opportunity to shape an era with Steffen. A unique opportunity to stick together through thick and thin.” The former sports director of Cologne, who signed Baumgart in May 2021, blamed the club bosses for the difficult situation. “You walked into this situation with your eyes open,” he told Sky.
Baumgart interview could motivate successors
New trainer names appear in the media almost every day. With Thomas Reis, André Breitenreiter, Stefan Kuntz, Bo Svensson, Ralph Hasenhüttl, Heiko Herrlich, Enrico Maaßen and long-time assistant coach André Pawlak, the list of possible candidates is now surprisingly long. Sports director Christian Keller tried to dispel emerging concerns that hardly any football teacher would dare to undertake the delicate mission the day after the separation from Baumgart: “In professional football, the saying applies to many players: The king is dead, long live the king. We were offered trainers like sand by the sea.”
According to Keller, the new coach should continue the game idea introduced under Baumgart, identify with the club and the city and introduce even more talent to the professional squad. Baumgart’s first interview since leaving FC on December 21st could encourage the candidates to take the risk in Cologne. After all, he attested to his former team’s class suitability and loyalty. “The boys are willing – and no one has stabbed me in the back the whole time. I really appreciate that. I am convinced that this team will stay in class and can do more than they have shown so far,” said the The 51-year-old from “Bild” is still popular with Cologne fans.
Baumgart also swore his successor on an emotional journey: “This club does something to you. Anyone who believes that they can oppose this club with all their emotions – that’s not possible. My heart will always be with FC.”