Rescuing the Goats: Funkel's Third Stint at Cologne
Cologne's Financial Crisis Finds a Solution in Friedhelm Funkel
When 1. FC Cologne is struggling, there's one man they call upon - Friedhelm Funkel. The mastermind trainer is back for his third time, aiming to guide the Billy Goats back to the Bundesliga with his wealth of experience and charm. Can he work his magic once more?
When Cologne is in dire straits, salvation often arrives from neighboring Krefeld. Promotion maestro Friedhelm Funkel hasn't lost his allure, even in his advanced age. Dispensing guidance, fostering camaraderie, and instilling positivity – the 71-year-old is warmly received at Cologne-Sülz.
"It feels like home to me," Funkel said after taking office on Monday, marking his return for the third time at the FC since 2002. Around 500 fans attended his comeback at the Geißbockheim ahead of his first game on Friday evening against 1. FC Nuremberg (6:30 PM/Sky and live ticker at ntv.de).
The task ahead is lighter than it was four years ago, when the crisis-ridden Cologne stood on the brink of the 2nd league. In that period, he managed to reach the relegation spot 16 in just six games and secured the class stay in two more games against Holstein Kiel (0:1, 5:1). "It was intense," the then 67-year-old later admitted.
Funkel turns a deaf ear to the past
After the surprising exit of trainer Gerhard Struber and sports director Christian Keller following the disappointing 1:1 against relegated Jahn Regensburg, Funkel only needs to secure a second-place finish in the remaining two games to ensure the return of 1. FC Cologne to the Bundesliga. For Funkel, it would be his seventh promotion.
"The team is in second place. That means they've predominantly achieved very, very good results. Otherwise, they wouldn't still be in the running. And that's what needs to be communicated to the team again," interim head coach Funkel explained.
The veteran on the trainer bench has a proven strategy. He pays no heed to examining past games critically. "That's not an issue. The past holds no interest for me," said Funkel, who has had several chats with the players since the beginning of the week. "I believe that a good relationship of trust has developed quickly," the Cologne trainer observed. Funkel is certain of his mission. "I want to see straightforward and clear football."
A glimmer of hope for the FC
While a temporary extension of his engagement is possible, Funkel's tenure could be coming to an end, depending on the final league standings. If the Cologne team ends up in third place, there are still the two relegation games against a Bundesliga team to contend with. The opponent could be Holstein Kiel again, especially if Cologne fails to secure a top-two finish. And even on the last matchday, Funkel could be challenged by his past if it comes to 1. FC Kaiserslautern. The Palatinate led him to the DFB-Pokal final last year and previously kept the club in the 2nd league with "The Red Devils".
However, Funkel's expertise can save the day. If the team wins in Nuremberg on Friday and their competition falters, 1. FC Cologne will be promoted. A monument might then be erected in his honor on the Jahnwiesen in Müngersdorf Sports Park.
A declaration of bankruptcy for the club's leadership could soon be on the horizon, a hasty dismissal of the current sports management. If Struber and Keller were no longer trusted to achieve promotion, this realization might have come sooner. The current presidency is active only until September, after which a new sporting director and a new coach are likely to take over. Funkel's name unlikely to be among the candidates, unless everything goes well, the FC will find themselves playing in a new league.
Source: ntv.de, Morten Ritter, dpa
- Friedhelm Funkel
- 1.FC Cologne
- 2. Bundesliga
Enrichment Data:The 2021-2022 season for 1. FC Köln did not involve "securing promotion" in the traditional sense, as they were already in the Bundesliga at the time. The expression "promotion" usually applies only to clubs moving up from the second division (2. Bundesliga), not to those already in the top league. By the end of the 2021-2022 season, 1. FC Köln remained in the Bundesliga; there is no public record or notable event indicating that the club needed to secure promotion under Friedhelm Funkel's management during that season.
In the event that you seek details about promotion for a different season, kindly clarify. As of early May 2025, the most recent information positions 1. FC Köln in the 2. Bundesliga, with their promotion status still ongoing [3]. However, this relates to a different season than the 2021-2022 season under Funkel.
- The Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the application of Article 93 (2) of the Treaty regarding Friedhelm Funkel's third stint at Cologne.
- Funkel's focus on fostering sports, particularly football, and camaraderie within 1. FC Cologne is seen as instrumental in their European-leagues aspirations.
- A disappointing matchday against Jahn Regensburg led to the exit of 1. FC Cologne's trainer Gerhard Struber and sports director Christian Keller, paving the way for Funkel's return.
- Despite the uncertainty surrounding his tenure at 1. FC Cologne, Funkel's objective remains clear: to promote straightforward and clear football for the club.
