Interview by Moritz Kielbassa and
Philip Selldorf, Cologne
It’s a pleasantly mild autumn day in Cologne, but with wind and clouds, and Steffen Baumgart asks for a double espresso on the terrace of the Geißbockheim. The changeable weather suits the current situation at FC, the order suits the coach. Because whoever watches Baumgart, 50, coach, could think he was permanently intoxicated with caffeine. With his temper, he has revived the traditional club Cologne. When he arrived in 2021, FC had avoided relegation with hanging and choking, and the public had not seen good football for years. Baumgart’s debut year brought seventh place – and qualification for Europe’s Conference League.