Overview

• Friedhelm Funkel achieved his record-breaking seventh promotion as a coach, leading 1. FC Köln back to the Bundesliga with a decisive 4:0 victory over 1. FC Kaiserslautern on May 16.
• At 71, Funkel asserts his physical and mental readiness to coach in the Bundesliga, rejecting doubts about his age as discriminatory and unwarranted.
• He emphasizes his desire to remain as Köln's head coach next season, citing a strong connection with the team developed in a short time.
• Funkel prioritizes league survival over ambitious experiments, acknowledging the challenges of competing in the Bundesliga and the likelihood of fewer victories.
• With decades of experience and an extensive network, Funkel believes he has the tools to stabilize Köln in Germany’s top football league.