
History & Honours
On Friday 13th Febrzary 1948m Kölner BC 01 and SpVgg Sülz 07 fused to form 1. Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e.V. – and a club was born like no other.
Franz Kremer was voted in as the first President. He belonged to a group of visionaries who, following the war, realised that small, traditional club needed to come together in order to form a side that would be successful outside of the city. For years, background work was done. With KBC and Sülz 07, two clubs and their members were ready to set aside the provincial identity in order to achieve much greater things. From the very first day, the setting of goals was always made with one question in mind. It was a question that Franz Kremer asked at the foundation meeting: “Do you want to be German champions with me?”
In 1962, Kremer’s vision became a reality. For the first time, 1. FC Köln were German champions. The picture of captain Hans Schäfer, after full-time in Berlin where he thrusts the title in the air, is one FC fans immediately recognise. Kremer, who was affectionately known as “the Boss”, pushed FC to professional structures early on and always came up with new and revolutionary ideas. The idea to turn a goat into the club mascot, to not only have a head coach but also a goalkeeper coach, to turn Geißbockheim and Müngersdorfer Stadion into important and modern infrastructural hubs, as well as not letting new signings be a game of chance. It was important to never lose the regional touch despite the professionalisation. Therefore, the team came largely from Köln or the area surrounding the city. But for success, FC were always ready to look beyond the borders. Spectacular signings from abroad made headlines. Many clubs took 1. FC Köln as their inspiration.
It was almost a logical consequence that the first Bundesliga title was celebrated in Köln. Franz Kremer stood firm despite doubters and questions from the conservative powers in German football in order to form a nationwide, professional league. From there on, FC were involved in the title fight. In 1978, the club enjoyed the most successful season in its history. A league and cup double. In five further seasons, FC finished as runners-up (1965, 1973, 1982, 1989 and 1990).
A symbolic record. Often, FC is close to the goals but the last step proves to be a problem. This is a part of FC history just like the success. But no defeat has completely thrown 1. FC Köln off course. Drama and emotions have never been lacking in the club and that is a huge part of the fascination surrounding the club.
1. FC Köln has produced many great footballers. The list is long. Be it Jupp Röhrig, Hans Schäfer, Wolfgang Overath, Wolfgang Weber, Heinz Flohe, Dieter Müller, Pierre Littbarski, Thomas Häßler, Toni Schumacher, Bodo Illgner or Lukas Podolski. Even with all their individual talent, they all have something in common: they were part of a team and coaches helped them to their incredible performances.
In 1998, FC were relegated for the first time, as the second-last founding member of the Bundesliga. A huge shock for everyone and all fans, who had a heart for FC. The sadness and grief were followed by an incredible wave of support, sympathy and loyalty. New fan clubs were started and the number of members grew. The number currently lies over 130,000 and there are around 900 official fan clubs. Despite the sixth relegation in 2018, the fans stayed true to their club. Kölner stick by their team. In the Hymne, it doesn’t say “when it must, go through the fire” for no reason.
In 2016-17, FC returned to the European stage for the first time in 25 years after qualification for the UEFA Europa League. As euphoric as the season began, so quickly that changed and disappeared. Despite their best efforts, FC were relegated to the second tier once more. 12 months that summed the club up. Most clubs would have broken apart but not FC. Jonas Hector, Marco Höger, Timo Horn, Marcel Risse and Matthias Lehmann went into the second division with the club and helped secure a return to the Bundesliga. Since then, FC have been in the top tier and continue to establish themselves in the Bundesliga. FC remains the same club that was founded by Franz Kremer all those years ago.
1. FC Köln is no ordinary club. It is special.
Because fans and members stay true to the club, even when it doesn’t win titles. Because the stadium is sold out in the 2. Bundesliga. Because it has humour and still remains professional.
It represents the heart and soul of Köln, the fourth biggest city in Germany. You feel it when Hennes runs into the stadium and when the team the wear the Karneval kits. Not many cities stand behind their club like in Köln: 80% of the Kölner feel a closeness to FC and are interested in how the club performances. The identification with the residents and the city can be felt through openness at Geißbockheim, in the middle of the Grüngürtel.
In 2023, the club surpassed the 130,000-member mark – with over half coming from Köln and the surrounding area. There are over 950 fan clubs, from Germany, from Belgium, England, Spain, USA and also Canada, Costa Rica, Brazil and Nigeria. Financially, FC are an important factor for Köln, and partners and sponsors of the club build the biggest business network in Rheinland.
With the 1. FC Köln Foundation, the club shows that social engagement is an important part of the philosophy. FC take their social responsibility on in the fullest. Part of that is securing a safe future for academy players, first-team members, employees and the coming generations. FC want to actively protect the environment within the club and to be a role model for others as well as being socially and ecologically conscious in the heart of all Köln residents.
The world of sports currently is undergoing a change. Digitalisation processes and new ideals aren’t just changing how training is managed and measured but also the experience within the stadium, communication and marketing. Startups across the world have many exciting ideas and business models and want to give new impulses to the entire sports branch. 1. FC Köln have been actively pushing this development since 2018 and support selected young companies in their own programme.
The 1. FC Köln Accelerator was the first Sport Tech Accelerator within the Bundesliga and offers innovative companies a 12-week intensive programme, in order to test their ideas and business models in a real-world environment and to network with sport and business experts. In eSports, FC are also at the forefront with their own team of professional FIFA players on the go since 2021-22.
That is 1. FC Köln. We are just different.
In March 2002, the business operations were spun off into 1. FC Köln GmbH & Co. KGaA.
The Generel Meeting of 1. Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e.V. retained its statutory autonomy and still elect the club’s Presidents. This board exercises the control rights for the club and the rights to appoint the Managing Directors of 1. FC Köln Verwaltungs GmbH (liable for and manages the KGaA). At club level, the Board of Directors is controlled by the Members' Council elected at the General Meeting and advised by the Advisory Board. At the level of the main affiliated companies of the Association, the Board of Directors requires the approval of the Joint Committee for transactions of particular economic importance in the internal relationship.
1. FC Köln GmbH & Co. KGaA Managing Directors:
Dr. Christian Keller, Markus Rejek, Philipp Türoff
- Honour 
- Year 
 
- German Championship/Bundesliga winners 
- 1962, 1964, 1978 
 
- German Championship/Bundesliga runners-up 
- 1960, 1963, 1965, 1973, 1982, 1989, 1990 
 
- DFB-Pokal winners 
- 1968, 1977, 1978, 1983 
 
- DFB-Pokals runners-up 
- 1954, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1980, 1991 
 
- West-German champions 
- 1912 (as Kölner BC 01), 1928 (as SpVgg Sülz 07), 1954, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 
 
- West-German runners-up 
- 1953, 1958, 1959 
 
- West-German Cup winners 
- 1953, 1964 
 
- West-German Cup runners-up 
- 1958, 1960 
 
- 2. Bundesliga winners 
- 2000, 2005, 2014, 2019 
 
- UEFA-Cup Finalists 
- 1986 
 
- German Amateur champions 
- 1981 
 
- German under-19 champions 
- 1971 
 
- German Youth Cup winners 
- 2013 
 
- German under-17 champions 
- 1990, 2011, 2019 
 
Bundesliga Leading Goal-Scorer
- 1968: Johannes Löhr 
- 27 Goals 
 
- 1977: Dieter Müller 
- 34 Goals 
 
- 1978: Dieter Müller 
- 24 Goals (tied with Gerd Müller) 
 
- 1985: Klaus Allofs 
- 26 Goals 
 
- 1989: Thomas Allofs 
- 17 Goals (tied with R.Wohlfahrt) 
 
- 2005: Lukas Podolski 
- 24 Goals (2. Bundesliga) 
 
- 2008: Milivoje Novakovic 
- 20 Goals (2. Bundesliga) 
 
- 2019: Simon Terodde 
- 29 Goals (2. Bundesliga) 
 
Record Appearances Official Matches
- Wolfgang Overath 
- 542 
 
- Harald Schumacher 
- 541 
 
- Hans Schäfer 
- 507 
 
- Johannes Löhr 
- 505 
 
- Pierre Littbarski 
- 504 
 
Record Goal-Scorer Official Matches
- Hans Schäfer 
- 304 
 
- Johannes Löhr 
- 235 
 
- Dieter Müller 
- 231 
 
- Christian Müller 
- 179 
 
- Karl-Heinz Thielen 
- 146 
 
Record Appearances Bundesliga
- Harald Schumacher 
- 422 
 
- Wolfgang Overath 
- 409 
 
- Pierre Littbarski 
- 406 
 
- Johannes Löhr 
- 381 
 
- Heinz Simmet 
- 357 
 
Record Goal-Scorer Bundesliga
- Johannes Löhr 
- 166 
 
- Dieter Müller 
- 159 
 
- Pierre Littbarski 
- 116 
 
- Klaus Allofs 
- 88 
 
- Wolfgang Overath 
- 83 
 
Record Appearances Oberliga
- Hans Schäfer 
- 357 
 
- Josef Röhrig 
- 242 
 
- Georg Stollenwerk 
- 239 
 
- Hans Sturm 
- 203 
 
- Hans Graf 
- 199 
 
Record Goal-Scorer Oberliga
- Hans Schäfer 
- 223 
 
- Christian Müller 
- 82 
 
- Walter Müller 
- 62 
 
- Hans Sturm 
- 58 
 
- Berthold Nordmann 
- 56 
 
Record Appearances 2. Bundesliga
- Matthias Scherz 
- 148 
 
- Alexander Voigt 
- 121 
 
- Carsten Cullmann 
- 111 
 
- Christian Springer 
- 98 
 
- Timo Horn 
- 98 
 
Record Goal-Scorer 2. Bundesliga
- Matthias Scherz 
- 45 
 
- Patrick Helmes 
- 43 
 
- Dirk Lottner 
- 30 
 
- Milivoje Novakovic 
- 30 
 
- Simon Terodde 
- 29 
 
"Footballer of the Year"
- 1962 
- Karl-Heinz Schnellinger 
 
- 1963 
- Hans Schäfer 
 
- 1984 
- Harald Schumacher 
 
- 1986 
- Harald Schumacher 
 
- 1989 
- Thomas Häßle 
 
All FC Presidents from 1948 until today in overview
- Name 
- Time period 
 
- Franz Kremer 
- 13 February 1948 - 11 November 1967 
 
- Werner Müller 
- 12 November 1967 - 8 August 1968 
 
- Oskar Maass 
- August 9, 1968 - October 12, 1973 
 
- Peter Weiand 
- October 12, 1973 - April 3, 1987 
 
- Dietmar Artzinger-Bolten 
- 3 April 1987 - 21 November 1991 
 
- Klaus Hartmann 
- November 21, 1991 - December 4, 1997 
 
- Albert Caspers 
- December 4, 1997 - May 7, 2004 
 
- Wolfgang Overarth 
- June 14, 2004 - November 13, 2011 
 
- Werner Spinner 
- April 23, 2012 - March 11, 2019 
 
- Dr. Werner Wolf 
- since the 8th of september 2019 
 
All FC coaches since the club was founded - from Karl Flink and Hennes Weisweiler to Timo Schultz.
- Season 
- Trainer 
 
- 1947/1948 
- Karl Flink (until 13.2.) 
 
- 1948/1949 
- Hennes Weisweiler 
 
- 1949/1950 
- Hennes Weisweiler 
 
- 1950/1951 
- Hennes Weisweiler 
 
- 1951/1952 
- Hennes Weisweiler 
 
- 1952/1953 
- Helmut Schneider (until 17.5. / Karl Winkler (from 18.5.) 
 
- 1953/1954 
- Karl Winkler 
 
- 1954/1955 
- Kurt Baluses 
 
- 1955/1956 
- Hennes Weisweiler 
 
- 1956/1957 
- Hennes Weisweiler 
 
- 1957/1958 
- Hennes Weisweiler 
 
- 1958/1959 
- Peter Szabo 
 
- 1959/1960 
- Oswald Pfau 
 
- 1960/1961 
- Oswald Pfau 
 
- 1961/1962 
- Zlatko Cajkovski 
 
- 1962/1963 
- Zlatko Cajkovski 
 
- 1963/1964 
- Georg Knöpfle 
 
- 1964/1965 
- Georg Knöpfle 
 
- 1965/1966 
- Georg Knöpfle 
 
- 1966/1967 
- Willi Multhaup 
 
- 1968/1969 
- Hans Merkle 
 
- 1969/1970 
- Hans Merkle 
 
- 1970/1971 
- Ernst Oswirk 
 
- 1971/1972 
- Gyula Lorant (until 4.4.) / Rolf Herings (from 5.4.) 
 
- 1972/1973 
- Rudolf Schlott 
 
- 1973/1974 
- Rudolf Schlott (until August 6) / Zlatko Cajkovski (from 17.9.) 
 
- 1974/1975 
- Zlatko Cajkovski 
 
- 1975/1976 
- Zlatko Cajkovski (until 12.12.) / Georg Stollenwerk (from 1.1.) 
 
- 1976/1977 
- Hennes Weisweiler 
 
- 1977/1978 
- Hennes Weisweiler 
 
- 1978/1979 
- Hennes Weisweiler 
 
- 1979/1980 
- Hennes Weisweiler (until 15.4.) / Karl-Heinz Heddergott (from 16.4.) 
 
- 1980/1981 
- Karl-Heinz Heddergott (until 13.10.) / Rolf Herings (14.10. until 15.10.) / Rinus Michels (from16.10.) 
 
- 1981/1982 
- Rinus Michels 
 
- 1982/1983 
- Rinus Michels 
 
- 1983/1984 
- Rinus Michels (until 23.8.) / Hannes Löhr (from 24.8.) 
 
- 1984/1985 
- Hannes Löhr 
 
- 1985/1986 
- Hannes Löhr (until 6.2.) / Georg Keßler (from 7.2.) 
 
- 1986/1987 
- Georg Keßler (until 22.9.) / Christoph Daum (from23.9.) 
 
- 1987/1988 
- Christoph Daum 
 
- 1988/1989 
- Christoph Daum 
 
- 1989/1990 
- Christoph Daum (until 28.6.) 
 
- 1990/1991 
- Erich Rutemöller (until 29.6.) 
 
- 1991/1992 
- Erich Rutemöller (until 29.8.) / Udo Lattek (29.8. until 2.9.) / Hannes Linßen (3.9. until 9.9.) / Jörg Berger (from 10.9.) 
 
- 1992/1993 
- Jörg Berger (until 27.2.) / Wolfgang Jerat (28.2. until 28.4.) / Morten Olsen (from 29.4.) 
 
- 1993/1994 
- Morten Olsen 
 
- 1994/1995 
- Morten Olsen 
 
- 1995/1996 
- Morten Olsen (until 27.8.) / Stephan Engels (27.8. until 31.3.) / Peter Neururer (from 1.4.) 
 
- 1996/1997 
- Peter Neururer 
 
- 1997/1998 
- Peter Neururer (until 30.9.) / Lorenz-Günther Köstner (from 1.10.) 
 
- 1998/1999 
- Bernd Schuster 
 
- 1999/2000 
- Ewald Lienen 
 
- 2000/2001 
- Ewald Lienen 
 
- 2001/2002 
- Ewald Lienen (until 28.1.) / Christoph John (28.1. until 14.2.) / Friedhelm Funkel (from 15.2.) 
 
- 2002/2003 
- Friedhelm Funkel 
 
- 2003/2004 
- Friedhelm Funkel (until 30.10.) / Jos Luhukay (31.10. until 1.11.) / Marcel Koller (from 2.11.) 
 
- 2004/2005 
- Huub Stevens 
 
- 2005/2006 
- Uwe Rapolder (until 18.12.) / Hanspeter Latour (from 3.1.) 
 
- 2006/2007 
- Hanspeter Latour (until 9.11.) / Holger Gehrke (9.11. until 26.11.) / Christoph Daum (from 27.11.) 
 
- 2007/2008 
- Christoph Daum 
 
- 2008/2009 
- Christoph Daum 
 
- 2009/2010 
- Zvonimir Soldo 
 
- 2010/2011 
- Zvonimir Soldo (until 24.10.) / Frank Schaefer (24.10. until 27.4.) / Volker Finke (from 27.4.) 
 
- 2011/2012 
- Stale Solbakken (until 12.4.) / Frank Schaefer (from 12.4.) 
 
- 2012/2013 
- Holger Stanislawski 
 
- 2013/2014 
- Peter Stöger 
 
- 2014/2015 
- Peter Stöger 
 
- 2015/2016 
- Peter Stöger 
 
- 2016/2017 
- Peter Stöger 
 
- 2017/2018 
- Peter Stöger (until 3.12.) / Stefan Ruthenbeck (from 3.12.) 
 
- 2018/2019 
- Markus Anfang (until 27.4.) / André Pawlak, Manfred Schmid (from 27.4.) 
 
- 2019/2020 
- Achim Beierlorzer (until 9.11.) /André Pawlak, Manfred Schmid (until 19.11.) / Markus Gisdol (from 19.11.) 
 
- 2020/2021 
- Markus Gisdol (until 11.4.) / Friedhelm Funkel (from 12.4.) 
 
- 2021/2022 
- Steffen Baumgart 
 
- 2022/2023 
- Steffen Baumgart 
 
- 2023/2024 
- Steffen Baumgart (until 31.12.) / Timo Schultz (from 4.1.) 
 
ALL FC'S GERMAN INTERNATIONALS
On 22nd November 1950, Josep "Jupp" Röhrig became the first 1. FC Köln player to appear for Germany. Almost exactly 64 years later on 7th November 2014, Jonas Hector became the 43rd FC player to make their debut for the DFB side. Here is the complete list of all players.
- Name 
- Caps/Goals* 
- Titles* (*while at 1. FC Köln) 
 
- Overath, Wolfgang 
- 81/17 
- 1974 World Cup winner, 1966 World Cup runner-up, 1970 World Cup third place 
 
- Schumacher, Harald 
- 76/0 
- 1982 and 1986 World Cup runner-up, 1980 European Champion, 1984 European Championship squad 
 
- Littbarski, Pierre 
- 71/18 
- 1990 World Cup winner, 1982 and 1986 World Cup runner-up, 1984 and 1988 European Championship squad 
 
- Podolski, Lukas 
- 69/26 
- 2006 and 2010 World Cup third place, 2004 and 2012 European Championship squad 
 
- Illgner, Bodo 
- 54/0 
- 1990 World Cup, 1994 World Cup squad, 1992 European Championship runners-up, 1988 European Championship squad 
 
- Weber, Wolfgang 
- 53/2 
- 1966 World Cup runner-up, 1970 World Cup third place 
 
- Hector, Jonas 
- 43/3 
- 2016 European Championship squad, 2017 Confederations Cup winner, 2018 World Cup squad 
 
- Cullmann, Bernd 
- 40/6 
- 1974 World Cup winner, 1978 World Cup squad, 1980 European Champion 
 
- Schäfer, Hans 
- 39/15 
- 1954 World Cup winner, 1958 und 1962 World Cup squad 
 
- Flohe, Heinz 
- 39/8 
- 1974 World Cup winner, 1978 World Cup squad, 1976 European Championship runner-up 
 
- Allofs, Klaus 
- 29/7 
- 1986 World Cup runner-up, 1984 European Championship squad 
 
- Schnellinger, Karl-Heinz 
- 24/0 
- 1962 World Cup squad 
 
- Kohler, Jürgen 
- 20/0 
- 1988 European Championship squad 
 
- Löhr, Johannes 
- 20/5 
- 1970 World Cup third place, 1972 European Championship squad 
 
- Stollenwerk, Georg 
- 19/0 
- 1958 World Cup squad 
 
- Häßler, Thomas 
- 17/1 
- 1990 World Cup winner 
 
- Fischer, Klaus 
- 15/9 
- 1982 World Cup runner-up 
 
- Wilden, Leo 
- 15/0 
- 1962 World Cup squad 
 
- Zimmermann, Herbert 
- 14/2 
- 1978 World Cup squad, 1980 European Championship squad 
 
- Müller, Dieter 
- 12/9 
- 1978 World Cup squad, 1976 European Championship runner-up 
 
- Röhrig, Joseph 
- 12/2 
 
- Strack, Gerhard 
- 10/1 
- 1984 European Championship squad 
 
- Schuster, Bernd 
- 9/1 
- 1980 European Champion 
 
- Engels, Stephan 
- 8/0 
- 1982 World Cup squad 
 
- Hornig, Heinz 
- 7/0 
- 1966 World Cup squad 
 
- Rahn, Helmut 
- 6/2 
 
- Mebus, Paul 
- 5/0 
- 1954 World Cup winner 
 
- Helmes, Patrick 
- 5/0 
 
- Ewert, Fritz 
- 4/0 
 
- Pott, Fritz 
- 3/0 
 
- Sturm, Hans 
- 3/0 
- 1958 and 1962 World Cup squad 
 
- Sinkiewicz, Lukas 
- 3/0 
 
- Bonhof, Rainer 
- 2/0 
 
- Dörner, Herbert 
- 2/0 
 
- Görtz, Armin 
- 2/0 
 
- Kapellmann, Hans-Josef 
- 2/0 
 
- Konopka, Harald 
- 2/0 
- 1978 World Cup squad 
 
- Manglitz, Manfred 
- 2/0 
- 1970 World Cup squad 
 
- Thielen, Karl-Heinz 
- 2/0 
 
- Allofs, Thomas 
- 1/0 
 
- Labbadia, Bruno 
- 1/0 
 
- Neumann, Herbert 
- 1/0 
 
- Steiner, Paul 
- 1/0 
- 1990 World Cup squad 
 
- Euler, Georg (Sülz 07) 
- 1/0 
 
- Flink, Karl (KBC) 
- 1/0 
 
- Hense, Robert (KBC) 
- 1/0 
 









