Kwasniok promises spectacle as he takes charge of Köln

Lukas Kwasniok has officially been unveiled as the new head coach of 1. FC Köln, stepping into the Bundesliga spotlight after making the move from SC Paderborn.

The 44-year-old succeeds Friedhelm Funkel, who guided Köln to the 2. Bundesliga title as interim manager last season, and has signed a contract through 2028.

In his first press conference on Wednesday, Kwasniok made it clear that he intends to bring his own brand of leadership to the Cathedral City, resisting comparisons to former fan-favourite Steffen Baumgart, who also made the switch from Paderborn to Köln in 2021. “At first glance, we may look similar,” Kwasniok admitted. “But there was a Baumi 1.0, now there’s a Luki 1.0.”

While he avoided setting any specific goals ahead of his debut Bundesliga campaign, Kwasniok expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to compete: “This team has the quality to hold its own in the Bundesliga, to be an uncomfortable opponent, and hopefully to provide some spectacle along the way.” 

With a grin, he added: “It would be nice if we could finish ahead of Gladbach.”

Kwasniok revealed that Köln moved quickly to secure his services. Just three days after the end of the 2. Bundesliga season, sporting director Thomas Kessler reached out via WhatsApp to initiate talks. “Sometimes in life, you get a chance that only comes once. After the first meeting, I knew: I want to come to Köln,” he said.

He praised the club’s blend of ambition and authenticity, describing the city as having “the size of a metropolis and the friendliness of a village,” adding, “And if you’re not completely daft, people here will embrace you.”

As for the squad, Kwasniok sees no urgent need for reinforcements in any particular position. Instead, he plans to rely heavily on Köln’s youth academy, traditionally a key pillar of the club’s identity.

Kwasniok will officially kick off preseason training on July 7, with a training camp in Bad Waltersdorf, Austria, scheduled from July 19 to 26. Köln’s first competitive fixture under the new coach will take place on August 17, when they visit 3. Liga side Jahn Regensburg in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.