Bundesliga
Cologne have announced that Lukas Kwasniok will be their coach for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season after he signed a three-year contract with the newly promoted side.
Friedhelm Funkel guided the Billy Goats back to the big time last season as Bundesliga 2 champions but then stepped down with Kwasniok now filling the role as the club returns to the Bundesliga after a one-season absence.
Watch: Cologne lift the Bundesliga 2 trophy
Kwasniok takes charge of a top-flight side for the first time after spending the past four seasons at Paderborn. It had been announced in April that, despite his contract running for another 12 months, Kwasniok would leave the club at the end of the 2024/25 campaign in which Paderborn finished fourth, just three points off the promotion play-off place.
“I had thoughts of taking a break but as (Cologne Managing Director) Thomas Kessler called, those thoughts disappeared," explained Kwasniok, who has made the same switch Steffen Baumgart did in 2021.
"If I get the chance to work in Köln, then I absolutely want to do just that. It is an amazing club and a huge chance. It will be an incredible feeling to be on the sideline in the Bundesliga with FC. We want to create a real frenzy around the club.”
Born in Poland, Kwasniok's coaching career started at Karlsruhe after his playing career had been stopped in the club's youth academy by a knee injury. After a spell at Carl Zeiss Jena, he led Saarbrücken to the DFB Cup semi-finals and promotion to Bundesliga 2.
He joined Paderborn in 2021 where he established them as one of the best sides in the division, never finishing lower than seventh. His side were in contention for a top-three finish coming into the final game of last season.
“We are very pleased that we were able to bring in Lukas Kwasniok to be the new Head Coach at 1. FC Köln," said Kessler. "Over several years in Paderborn, he has impressively shown that he can develop a team, play attractive and successful football and promote young players to a higher level. His way of playing, his energy and his desire fit well to what we want to see for FC in the Bundesliga.
"In the detailed and intense discussions with Lukas, he confirmed our impressions that with his personality, conviction and approach his suit 1. FC Köln and Köln in general. We are convinced that we have found the right coach to continue FC’s development in the Bundesliga and stabilise us in the long-term.”