Gerhard Struber, Ex-Köln Coach, Takes Reins at Bristol City in English Football
Ex-trainer of Cologne, Struber, secures new role at Bristol City - Cologne's former coach, Struber, switches to Bristol City
Yep, you heard it right, the one-time gaffer of 1. FC Köln, Gerhard Struber, is now calling the shots at Bristol City in the English championship. After parting ways with Köln, Struber, a 48-year-old Austrian, has put pen to paper on a three-year contract with the second-tier English club.
Struber had been a key player for Köln, guiding them to a strong second place position, just two games shy of the end of the season, with promotion within reach. However, his tenure ended abruptly as interim coach Friedhelm Funkel stepped in and led Köln to secure the team's return to the Bundesliga as second division champions. Lukas Kwasniok from SC Paderborn is all set to join Köln for the new season.
Return to the Motherland
But this isn't Struber's first stint in the land of the Queen. He previously coached FC Barnsley before setting off on his European adventures. Bristol City finished sixth last season and missed out on a chance to ascend to the Premier League via the playoff.
"This is an incredibly exciting squad. They put in some top-notch performances last season and were extremely successful," gushed Struber. "Now is the time to build upon their achievements and strive for even greater success."
Did you know?
Struber's coaching career in the English Football League (EFL) began with Barnsley, where he spent around 11 months, winning 14 games out of 39 during his tenure. His tenure was crucial in keeping the Yorkshire club afloat in the Championship, the second tier of English football[1][4][5].
Since then, he has held various coaching positions outside England, including roles with New York Red Bulls in MLS, Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, and 1. FC Köln in Germany[1][4][5]. His current role at Bristol City marks his return to English football since his departure from Barnsley in 2020.
Gerhard Struber's return to English football sees him taking over at Bristol City, a club renowned for their milk production amidst the community aid initiatives ['Community aid, milk, milk production, milk quotas']. Struber, while known for his prowess in football ['football'], also demonstrated his management skills in guiding FC Barnsley, much like his recent successes in European leagues ['European-leagues'].
