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Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart: The prank from the Rhine – sport

The 1. FC Köln players found out the day before after lunch together that the start of training on Monday morning would be a start without a grace period. From the following day, Steffen Baumgart had announced to the professionals that he would again be the master of their free time and freedom, albeit in a different choice of words that was not quite ready for printing.

During his first appearances in the dressing room and in the Cologne public, the coach immediately let everyone know that he lost none of his amazing momentum during the summer break. As befits his restless nature, he did not spend his holidays on an island in a hammock, but went on all kinds of tours. Among other things, he was in Rostock, Hamburg, Berlin and Edinburgh. Back on the Rhine, he signed a new employment contract in Geißbockheim. “This is very, very good news for the start of the new season,” commented sports director Christian Keller, while Baumgart, who was seated next to him, looked very satisfied. There is no doubt that both sides agreed on this when they tied the knot for further cooperation.

As good as the news may be for everyone involved – it is only conditional news at best. Neither the coach nor FC had made a secret of the fact that Baumgart would like to extend the contract that runs until 2023 prematurely and that the club would like to comply with this request . The advantages for both parties were obvious: the coach would receive proof of recognition including better pay, the FC would have a certain amount of security that the desired coach would not be approached by the competition at the next opportunity or even poached away. Such concerns were certainly voiced in management.

From now on, they always want to meet in spring – and clarify “whether we’re still going the same way”

Contrary to what was announced in local press reports, Baumgart has not committed to 2025, but only to 2024. Although both sides are basically striving for “longer cooperation”, said Keller, they decided together for practical reasons to follow the example of SC Freiburg. As is well known, Christian Streich extends his vows there by a further year every spring, so that in the meantime it has become an epoch that is unique in Europe. Something similar is now to be created in Cologne. They will meet “from now on in the rhythm of the Freiburg model” each spring and consider “whether and how we want to tackle the future together,” reported the manager.

Baumgart thinks this is a good solution. “My thoughts are always very short-term,” he said. He finds long-term planning “difficult”. That’s why it’s important to check every year: “Are we still going the same way?”

Nobody in Cologne needs to doubt that at the moment. Baumgart is satisfied that Keller and the club have ensured that all newcomers are already on duty, the squad is “just as good as last year”, says the coach. A transfer is still pending, there could also be losses. The Tunisian-French regular Ellyes Skhiri, 27, who is often traded as a candidate for sale for financial reasons, should remain in Cologne if possible. There could also be a contract extension for him.

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