1. FC Köln have extended the contract with coach Steffen Baumgart by one year ahead of schedule. The 51-year-old's new contract now runs until 30 June 2025, the Bundesliga club from the Rhineland announced on Wednesday.
"Last year, we made a clear agreement: If it suits all sides, we will extend the contract for another year. That's out of the question for me," Baumgart said, according to the club's statement. "We have always talked about a path, and I am convinced that it is not over yet. We can still achieve a lot here."
"Clear game idea"
Baumgart has been coaching Cologne since the 2021/22 season. Under the Rostock native, FC qualified for the Europa Conference League, where they were eliminated in the group stage. Cologne are in tenth place in the Bundesliga and have secured their place in the league.
"The overall development speaks for itself. Steffen and his coaching team work consistently and systematically with our team along a clear game idea," said managing director Christian Keller. "As a result, many players have developed their personal performance positively. With his clear signature, Steffen has shaped our team into a strong collective in which great cohesion and real team spirit prevail."