FC Köln
Bundesliga / Germany
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(Last 5 Matches)
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1. Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e. V. or simply known as FC Koln (FC Cologne in English), are a German professional football club that plays in the German Bundesliga. They are based in the namesake city in North Rhine-Westphalia. Koln enjoyed great success in the 1960s and 1980s and were one of the founding members of the Bundesliga. With over 150,000 members, they are the fourth-largest German football team.
They even made waves in Europe before declining and earning the tag of a yo-yo club. Although success has been extremely rare after their golden eras, they are fighting for survival every single season. After winning the 2. Bundesliga in the 2024-25 season, they are back in the top-flight once more. As the club gets ready to battle the odds yet again, let us take a look at Koln sponsors, Koln fans, Koln History, and Koln Net Worth.
FC Koln were formed in 1948 through the merger of Kolner BC 01 and SpVgg Sulz 07. The two predecessor sides were largely successful in their regional leagues in the early 1900s before the wars destabilised them and forced them into a decline. The two clubs decided to merge in 1948, paving the way for Koln.
Koln started playing in the Oberliga West in 1949-50 and won their first title in 1954. They also reached the DFB-Pokal final in 1954, only to lose it to Stuttgart. They won their first national title in 1962 when they won the German Championship after beating Nurnberg in the finals. This allowed them an entry to the European Cup, where they lost in the first round.
Soon after, Koln became one of the 16 founding members of the Bundesliga in 1963. They created history by becoming the inaugural champions in 1964 and gaining entry to the European Cup again. They lost to Liverpool in the quarters on a coin toss, remarkably, after three games resulted in a 2-2 stalemate on aggregate. They kept competing in the league and lifted the DFB-Pokal as well before sealing a historic league and cup double in the 1977-78 season.
At the peak of their powers, they reached the UEFA Cup final, where they lost to Real Madrid in 1986. They finished second in 1989 and 1990 and lost the DFB-Pokal in 1991 before going into a freefall. From being one of the most successful Bundesliga clubs in terms of trophies and points won, they suffered their first relegation in 1998 and became a yo-yo club.
They kept swinging between the first and second divisions continuously from 2001 to 2006. After they suffered another relegation in 2012, they accumulated €33 m in debt and €11m in negative equity. Werner Spinner took over as president in 2012 to spark a turnaround.
After gaining promotion, they steadied the ship and even qualified for the Europa League in 2017 after a fifth-place finish in the 2016-17 campaign. The club saw profits again, showing brief signs of recovery. However, these signs were short-lived as they suffered another relegation in 2018.
A few swings and turabouts later, they won the promotion to the Bundesliga again in the 2024-2025 season after winning the second division. They aspire to stay in the league for a long time now.
| Founded | February 13, 1948 |
| Current Owner | Member-owned |
| President | Werner Wolf |
| Country | Germany |
| City | Koln |
| Nickname | Die Geißböcke (The Billy Goats) Effzeh |
| League | Bundesliga |
| Stadium | RheinEnergie Stadion |
| Capacity | 49,698 |
| Manager | Lukas Kwasniok |
| Squad Size | 26 |
FC Koln net worth is approximately €150 million, thanks to their solid backing from sponsors. Their squad has an approximate value of €75 million according to Transfermarkt.
| Net Worth | €150 million |
| Squad Value | €75 million |
| Revenue Sources | Matchday Revenue, Player Sales, Sponsorships |
The popular German retail market chain Rewe acts as the lead sponsor of the club. The energy firm RheinEnergie is their stadium naming rights partner.
| Sponsor | Type of Sponsorship |
|---|---|
| Rewe | Lead Sponsor |
| RheinEnergie | Stadium Naming Rights |
| Hummel | Kit Sponsor |
| Telekom, Devk, Ford, Gaffel, DHL, Kik, Merkur, Coca Cola, Etoro, SAP | Exclusive Sponsors |
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Koln shares long-standing and fierce rivalries with Borussia Monchengladbach, Fortuna Düsseldorf and Bayer Leverkusen.
Although Monchengladbach is not located along the Rhine, Koln shares intense rivalry with the club due to both clubs being based in the Rhineland cultural region.
The derbies with Dusssselfdorf and Leverkusen stem from the proximity of the cities and sharing a Rhine bank. These games see gruelling action every time.
Koln had wonderful success in the 20th century. With three national titles and four cups, they set the standard. Being the inaugural Bundesliga champions is an achievement they will forever be proud of. They came close to European success as well, but it didn't materialise.
| Competition | No. of Times won |
|---|---|
| German Football Championship | 1 (1961-62) |
| Bundesliga | 2 (1963-64,1977-78) |
| DFB-Poka | 4 (1967–68, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1982–83) |
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Köln is one of the three carnival cities of Germany. The fans celebrate the club by flocking to the stadium in numbers every time. With excellent passion and strategic partnerships overseas with NFL teams like the Detroit Lions, they are making a global appeal as well.
Koln are back in the Bundesliga again. The hopes of being successful are far away for them. It is a matter of building a steady tag of a first-division club and maybe fighting for honours to live up to the glorious Koln teams of the past.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns FC Koln?
FC Koln is a member-owned club with Werner Wolf acting as the President.
What is FC Koln nickname?
FC Koln are nicknamed Die Geißböcke (The Billy Goats)
When was FC Koln founded?
FC Koln was founded on 13 February 1948.
How many trophies has FC Koln won?
FC Koln has won seven major trophies, including the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal.
What is FC Koln highest league finish ever?
FC Koln finished first in the league when they won the league multiple times.
