Kwasniok breaks with tradition: 1. FC Köln without a permanent starting eleven!

Kwasniok breaks with tradition: 1. FC Köln without a permanent starting eleven!

A new wind is blowing at 1. FC Köln: Lukas Kwasniok, the 43-year-old coach who will take over the reins in the 2025-26 season, has already spoken out before the start of the competitive game against Regensburg on August 17th. Kwasniok, who previously caused a stir at SC Paderborn 07, is not planning a permanent starting eleven. He wants to remain flexible and adapt the starting lineup depending on the players' condition. “The old football adage ‘Never change a winning team’ no longer applies to us,” said Kwasniok. That sounds like fresh courage and new ideas, far away from rigid structures.

In the friendly against Atalanta Bergamo, Cologne celebrated an impressive 4-0 win and showed that the new additions are well integrated. Kwasniok relies on the strength of the entire squad to overcome the various challenges of the season. “I attach great importance to the attitude and posture in training,” explained the new coach. Marvin Schwäbe is expected to be the clear number one in goal, while Timo Hübers will lead the defense. Eric Martel and Isak Johannesson form the central midfield axis, complemented by the offensive wingers Jakub Kaminski and Jan Thielmann.

The new additions to the squad

Sebastian Sebulonsen, in particular, stood out among the new signings as he prevailed in a duel against Jusuf Gazibegovic on the right wing. Kwasniok has a good knack for team development. FC managing director Thomas Kessler already praised him for his ability to promote young talent and further develop the team. The trust that Kwasniok has in the squad could be the key to success.

It's not just about the performance on the pitch, but also about the philosophy that Kwasniok brings with him. He sees 1. FC Köln as a great opportunity and has signed a contract until June 30, 2028. Kwasniok previously played in the youth academy of Karlsruher SC until a knee injury forced him to take up a coaching career. In the past, he led teams like FC Carl Zeiss Jena and 1. FC Saarbrücken to great successes, including reaching the DFB Cup semi-finals and promotion to the 2nd league.

A look into the history of the Bundesliga

The challenges are great, especially when you follow in the footsteps of successful trainers. The list of master coaches in the Bundesliga shows that only very few coaches were able to win this major title. Udo Lattek remains the most successful coach with eight titles, followed by Ottmar Hitzfeld with seven. FC Köln has experienced many glorious times in its history and hopes to experience another upswing with Kwasniok. The Bundesliga is fiercely competitive and every win counts.

The countdown is on: The first competitive game against Regensburg is just around the corner and the Cologne fans are full of anticipation. The question remains: Will Kwasniok's flexible system provide the edits the team needs to compete at the top this season?

Goat blog reports that there will be no permanent squad, and FC.de highlights Kwasniok's successful past, while Wikipedia offers an exciting overview of the master coaches of the Bundesliga.