Copyright: David Indianlied/dpa
Steffen Baumgart was the only one to wear a black ribbon during the game at VfL Bochum on Saturday (January 22, 2022).
1. FC Köln was a guest at VfL Bochum for the top Bundesliga game on Saturday. Coach Steffen Baumgart was in focus twice.
1. FC Köln averted their third loss of the season in a row and even missed a win! On Saturday (January 22, 2022) there was a 2-2 draw at VfL Bochum.
FC coach Steffen Baumgart (50) seemed a bit pissed off after the cup and the criticism of his starting XI rotation against HSV. In the game in the Ruhr area, he was immediately the center of attention again.
Steffen Baumgart in the Bundesliga top game in focus
But this time not because of the renewed rotation (again, six starting eleven changes compared to the cup), but because of two actions.
Baumgart noticed a black bandage on his left arm before the game when he spoke to Sebastian Hellmann and Lothar Matthäus on Sky TV.
Steffen Baumgart with crape on the sidelines
The FC coach wore a black ribbon, but none of the 22 players on the field. But why Baumgart? Born in Rostock, he mourned the death of Hans-Jürgen “Dixie” Dörner (†70), who died during the week and was also called the “Beckenbauer of the East”.
After the game he said on the Sky microphone about the black ribbon and when asked “Dixie” Dörner: “For me as a young player he was someone I looked up to. I got to know him. He was ill and for me that’s a personality that shaped East German football.”
Then in the 19th minute the next Baumgart scene, but this time only to be heard. A fan called out to the FC coach from the stands: “Shut up!” Nice works differently, but Baumgart reacted coolly, only answering: “Definitely not.”
Fans celebrate Steffen Baumgart for reacting to the “shut up” saying
FC posted this brief exchange of words on Twitter, with Baumgart being celebrated in the comments for his reaction. “These brief poetry from the trainer is always so awesome,” wrote, summarizing the many laughing emojis well.
However, there was also a good atmosphere in the stadium: the audience laughed after Baumgart’s reaction, who then gave the thumbs up in the direction of the stands, which was applauded.
At half time, the Bochumers had lost their laughter. After Gerrit Holtman (25′) was temporarily 1-0 down, Cologne turned the game around with goals from Timo Hübers (36′) and Anthony Modeste (45′). In the second half Bochum came back with a goal from Takuma Asano (70th), in the end the clubs drew 2-2.
After the game, there were calls from the stands towards Baumgart again – but this time from a small fan. The boy asked Baumgart: “Steffen, can I get your hat?” The FC coach answered very dryly: “No”. The little spectator then left the stadium without a personal trophy.