2. Bundesliga: Funkel's Crusade - A Handful of Wins to Secure the Ultimate Gig
Funkel's Endeavor: Touch it and Climb Higher - Funkel's goal: to elevate and make a show of support
When the table-straggler 1. FC Cologne finds itself knee-deep in mud, a prompt rescue often comes from the emerald plains of Krefeld. Promotion maestro Friedhelm Funkel, showing no signs of aging gracefully, is still a guru of coaching, even at an age where most folks are rocking in their chairs. Filled with grit, on point, lending his ear, igniting comradery - the 71-year-old continues to cast his charm in Cologne-Sülz.
"It's a homecoming," Funkel declared after assuming office on Monday - his third rodeo with the FC since 2002. Around 500 loyal fans gathered at the Geißbockheim to witness his trainer debut ahead of his first game against 1. FC Nuremberg [Friday, 6:30 PM/Sky].
Funkel has engineered six promotions thus far
The battle this time is shorter and less daunting compared to four years ago when Cologne's economic crisis club was teetering on the precipice of the 2. Bundesliga. After the unexpected sacking of manager Gerhard Struber and sports director Christian Keller following the disappointing 1:1 draw against relegated Jahn Regensburg, Funkel only needs two victories from the remaining fixtures to secure the return of 1. FC Cologne to the Bundesliga. For Funkel, it would be his seventh promotion.
"The team is in second place, which means they've notched up markedly positive results. Unless otherwise, they wouldn't still be competing in the race. We need to remind the team of this," elucidated the interim coach.
The old-timer on the sidelines has a knack for this. Criticising past performances isn't his turf. "That's not a concern," Funkel asserted, who's spent extensive hours chatting with the players since the beginning of the week. "I believe a good bond of trust has developed in a short span of time," remarked the Cologne coach.
Relapse remains a possibility
Funkel is bullish with his mission. "I'm a proponent of simple, clear football," explained the coach. Four years ago, he managed to reach the relegation playoff spot in six games and cement survival through two more games against Holstein Kiel [0:1, 5:1]. It was a grueling ordeal, as the 67-year-old divulged later.
This time around, his efforts may extend beyond the penultimate game. In the event 1. FC Cologne ends up in third spot, there will be two relegation playoff games versus the Bundesliga 16th. The rival could once again be Holstein Kiel. And on the final matchday, Funkel might find himself in a nostalgic bind when he faces 1. FC Kaiserslautern. He masterminded the team's path to the DFB-Pokal final last year and ensured they a place in the 2. Bundesliga afterwards.
If the FC Cologne titles the promotion scale earlier, they might even erect a statue of Funkel on the Jahnwiesen in the Müngersdorf sports park.
The sudden ousting of the club's leadership is a stark admission of bankruptcy. If Struber and Keller were no longer trustworthy guardians of promotion, perhaps this realization could've transpired sooner.
The incumbent board is active until September, after which a new sports director might step into the fray, and a new coach surely follows suit. Funkel's name is unlikely to be on the ballot. Only if everything goes swimmingly, the FC will be playing in a new league.
- Friedhelm Funkel
- 1. FC Cologne
- Cologne
- Football Bundesliga
- Krefeld
- Promotion
- Gerhard Struber
- Christian Keller
- Holstein Kiel
- 1. FC Nuremberg
- Nuremberg
- Sky
- Sports
- Jahn Regensburg
Did You Know?
- The Promotion Maven: Friedhelm Funkel, with six successful promotions, is currently the most prolific Bundesliga ascender among coaches.
- Ageless Wonder: The 71-year-old's knack for guiding football teams back to the top division demonstrates his remarkable longevity and skill in the sport.
- The Road Ahead: Though a new coach and sports director might arrive after the current board's tenure in September, Funkel's record-breaking promotions cement his place in football history.
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment in the Community that aims to instill a sense of unity and cooperation, much like the bond of trust Coach Funkel has developed with the players at 1. FC Cologne.
- If the 1. FC Cologne fails to secure two victories from the remaining fixtures, the subsequent relegation playoff games could see them face the challenging distance of kilometers against Holstein Kiel, much like the grueling ordeal Funkel faced four years ago.
- While Funkel's tactical prowess has earned him the nickname 'The Promotion Maven', his ability to inspire and motivate, as exhibited by the 500 fans gathering for his trainer debut, could be compared to the enthusiastic support seen at a funkel, a traditional German social event.
- Despite his impressive success in securing promotions, Funkel's future with 1. FC Cologne is uncertain, mirroring the survival stakes on the sports field, as the team competes in the Bundesliga matchday against 1. FC Nuremberg. However, if Funkel was to avert relegation, his performance could potentially result in a fascinating twist - the erection of a statue in his honor.
