Lukas Kwasniok: Cologne's new coach wants to ignite a Bundesliga furor!

Lukas Kwasniok: Cologne's new coach wants to ignite a Bundesliga furor!

An exciting chapter for 1. FC Köln begins: Lukas Kwasniok was officially introduced as the new head coach on Friday, June 6, 2025. The 43-year-old succeeds Steffen Baumgart and has signed a contract until June 30, 2028. “I’m looking forward to the challenge and see FC as a great opportunity,” said Kwasniok in an interview that was published alongside the contract announcement. KSTA reports that Kwasniok has personal connections to Cologne, as his great-grandmother lived in the city. He spent his childhood in Poland before his family moved to Germany. He sees Cologne as a “metropolis with the warmth of a village”.

Kwasniok has great ambitions in his new role: “Playing against Cologne shouldn’t be fun,” he explained, emphasizing that he wants to play “intense, somewhat wild football” with the team. The focus is on dedication and clear instruction in playing style. His predecessor Baumgart leaves big shoes to fill, but Kwasniok is convinced of the quality of the current squad and expects changes that will strengthen the team.

Experience and vision

Before his commitment to 1. FC Köln, Kwasniok was a coach at SC Paderborn for four years, where he established the club in the top group of the 2nd Bundesliga and only narrowly missed out on promotion. He looks back on an eventful coaching career, which began in the youth team at Karlsruher SC and led to positions such as FC Carl Zeiss Jena and 1. FC Saarbrücken, where he was promoted to the 3rd league. Thanks to his commitment and skills in player development, he enjoys the trust of FC sporting director Thomas Kessler, who is confident about Kwasniok's playing style. FC informs us that we have agreed not to disclose the transfer modalities with SC Paderborn.

Kwasniok now plans to spend the next ten days on vacation with his family and then begin preparing for the new season. He will return ten days before the start of training in order to optimally adapt to the club and the staff. He is particularly excited about the atmosphere in the Rhein-Energie Stadium, where he wants to “cause a sensation” with FC. His experiences and visions seem promising for the future of 1. FC Köln.

A look at the league

The Bundesliga is known for its competitiveness and with the change of coach at 1. FC Köln a lot is happening here too. Fans and experts are eagerly awaiting how the new constellation will affect the team's performance. Transfer market continues to document all coaching changes and developments in the league that will test Kwasniok and the FC.

The Cologne supporters can look forward to an exciting season in which the new coach can prove his skills and develop the team further. Nobody doubts that Lukas Kwasniok is ready to give everything for FC - and that will be necessary to be successful in the Bundesliga!