Bundesliga team
Successor to Steffen Baumgart: Timo Schultz will be the new coach of 1. FC Köln
Off to the Rhine: Timo Schultz becomes the new coach of 1. FC Köln. The 46-year-old most recently coached FC Basel
© Georgios Kefalas / KEYSTONE
Timo Schultz is following big footsteps at 1. FC Köln: The coach who was last employed in Basel is set to succeed Steffen Baumgart on the Rhine.
After parting ways with head coach Steffen Baumgart, 1. FC Köln has signed Timo Schultz as their successor. The 46-year-old will lead the first training session for the Bundesliga club, 17th in the table, on Thursday. announced. Several media outlets had previously reported on the personnel, firstly the TV channel Sky. Schultz most recently worked as head coach at Swiss first division club FC Basel, where he was released in September. He previously coached the second division club FC St. Pauli from 2020 to 2022. Schultz was also active as a player for the Hanseatic League from 2005 to 2012.
“He brings the personality and competence to raise the performance potential of our team,” said sports director Christian Keller, according to the statement Schultz. The new coach is scheduled to be officially presented in Cologne on Thursday afternoon. His first game is on Saturday against 1. FC Heidenheim.
Timo Schultz: difficult legacy at 1. FC Köln
“I’m looking forward to a very exciting task at this great, traditional club. We will work hard and hard in the next few weeks to achieve the necessary results. FC belongs in the 1st Bundesliga,” said Schultz. The new task is likely to be a more difficult mission for him. After just two wins in 16 games, Cologne is in a direct relegation zone, three points clear of 15th place. In addition, the squad cannot be strengthened during the winter break or next summer due to a transfer ban imposed by the International Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Crew quarters
Luxury temple to sports hotel: This is where the teams stay during the European Football Championship in Germany
The legacy of his predecessor Baumgart, who enjoyed great popularity among FC fans, makes Schultz’s task even more difficult. Shortly before Christmas, one day after a defeat at Union Berlin, Baumgart and Cologne prematurely ended their collaboration, which was actually dated until 2025.