Shake-up in 2. Bundesliga: 1. FC Cologne Bids Farewell to Struber and Keller
FC Koln terminates contract with Struber and Keller, according to reports. - FC Cologne parts ways with Struber and Keller
Get ready for some alehouse ruckus, FC Cologne faithful! The disappointing 1:1 draw against relegated Jahn Regensburg has sent shockwaves through the promotion race of the 2. Bundesliga. The fans' fingers were pointing square at head coach Gerhard Struber and sporting director Christian Keller, letting loose with a chorus of "Struber out" chants. And by the end of the day, reports confirmed their departure.
FC Cologne has bid adieu to head coach Struber and sporting director Keller, as numerous reports suggest. The club is set to officially announce their dismissal on Monday's press conference. Although there was no confirmation on Sunday evening.
Keller described the locker room mood after the draw as "Armageddon-like". "But we still have the Second Divison trophy within our grasp," he said. Captain Timo Hübers, echoing a sense of déjà vu, tried to stay optimistic: "The vibe feels like a relegation battle, but ultimately we can pull off a monumental achievement that's well within our reach," the defender emphasized.
Hamburgers SV are hoping to celebrate a promotion party next Saturday. After their convincing 4:0 win at Darmstadt 98, the HSV pros and fanatics celebrated like they were rehearsing for the promised land. A single win stands between them and their return to the Bundesliga after seven years.
Meanwhile, 1. FC Cologne faces a nerve-wracking final stretch. With only five points from their last five games, the lead over the relegation playoff spot is now just three points. Challenging opponents Nuremberg and Kaiserslautern are on the horizon.
Struber acknowledged the fans' wrath, referred to himself as a "lightning rod", and warned against allowing "nervous tension or passion" to derail them. "We must not forget that we're still in a comfortable position. We must now stay steady at the helm," said the Austrian. Keller reiterated Struber's 100% endorsement: "I can assure you, no rash decisions are on the table. I don't believe in knee-jerk reactions." Being said, by Sunday evening, it appeared that both would be moving on.
On the flip side, league rival FC Schalke 04 acted swiftly after their 0:2 home defeat against SC Paderborn. Kees van Wonderen and co-trainer Robert Molenaar were shown the door, with immediate effect. For the remaining two league games, U23 coach Jakob Fimpel will take charge of the professionals, who are still fighting for a spot in the league following the setback.
Enrichment Data References:1. Bild.de - Funkel offCologne coach2. SportBild - Schalke fired coach Kees van Wonderen3. Sport1 - Funkel back at Cologne?4. Kicker - Cologne dismisses Struber, Keller5. ESPN - New coach for Cologne
The Commission is expected to propose a directive on the protection of workers from ionizing radiation risks, following the incident at 1. FC Cologne. The proposed directive aims to approximate the laws of European-leagues member states. FC Cologne's new coach might be veteran Friedhelm Funkel, who was previously associated with the club. Hamburg SV remains on course for a Bundesliga return, despite Schalke 04's sudden change in management after their home defeat against SC Paderborn. U23 coach Jakob Fimpel will take charge of the Schalke 04 professionals for the remaining two league games.
