2nd Bundesliga: To clarify a lot at FC – does Funkel continue with 71?

The application letter did not come from himself, but curiously from the opponent. Torsten Lieberknecht thought the plea for Friedhelm Funkel. After the seventh Bundesliga promotion of the 1st FC Köln, the coach of the 1st FC Kaiserslautern urgently advised the Cologne to give the 71-year-old Funkel a contract in the first division. “He is in top shape, not a gram of fat. He can celebrate like a beast. I can only give the advice: open the box and stop him,” said Lieberknecht after the 0: 4 (0: 2) of his team on Sunday in Cologne.

Although the Cologne team had serious doubts about the direct return two weeks earlier and took part in coach Gerhard Struber and sports director Christian Keller two weeks before the end of the season, FC even rose as a second division champion. Thank you.

Much praise for the coach dino

“What Friedhelm brought in cannot be put into words. We would not mind if he stayed for another year,” said defense vourer Dominique Heintz. The traditional club driven by nervousness and unrest won both outstanding games under the coaching dino. “Standing the pressure and winning both games is highly counted,” said President Werner Wolf.

With empathy, serenity and good persuasion, Funkel managed to take the lead vests and fear of failure to the players. “He brought a certain relaxation in,” praised sports director Thomas Kessler and spoke of a “different speech”.

And Funkel has always been receptive to such praise and flirted again this time. “I am open to everything. Maybe also to continue,” said Funkel, who had actually said several times years ago as a trainer of Fortuna Düsseldorf that he should be his last club, which he loved so much.

After his leave of absence five and a half years ago there, there were three (short-term) engagements: two at the Rheinische Rivals in Cologne and one in Kaiserslautern. He held the FCK in the 2nd league last season and took him cup final. He would have liked to continue a year ago. Apparently they no longer trusted him in the Palatinate for a whole season.

Is it different at FC now? “Everyone knows how to stand with this club. It was a lot of fun for me. We stayed so that we would sit down. I felt that I was in the mood,” said Funkel.

The coaching question is not the only thing that FC has to clarify after the seventh climb. After all, it is about taking the club from the eternal elevator of the constant ascents and descents. “That would be the classic, now throwing any slogans out and telling what we have to do,” said Kessler. The aim is to “put together a squad that is competitive in the Bundesliga”.

But who plans to do that? According to the basement, much indicates that Kessler gets his job. In any case, the former goalkeeper passed his first exam with flying colors. “We have made the clear agreement that my mission is to get a trainer and rise with this trainer,” said Kessler.

“Now these 14 days are over and now we can make a hook on it. And now we have to talk to each other.” There is a lot to clarify at the FC after the climb.