FC Köln: A club full of history and passion!

FC Köln: A club full of history and passion!

On February 3, 2025, a very special day took place at 1. FC Köln. Helmut, a loyal member of the association, celebrated his long affiliation and connection with his favorite club. The native of Leipzig, who grew up in Aachen, came to Kaiserslautern 28 years ago, where he lives with his wife Sabine. His membership at FC began on July 1, 1996 and is one of the longest in the "Lautre" department. He will be accompanied on this day by his daughter Florence and his son Maxi, who share the nostalgic memories of the first live game on May 8, 1971 against 1. FC Kaiserslautern.

Helmut is a passionate supporter of 1. FC Köln and became a fan since the first championship in 1962. He was inspired by the legendary player Wolfgang Overath. His personal highlights include the radio conference on the 1978 championship and the dramatic last-minute goal of Marcel Risse in the derby in 2016. Today, Helmut lives only about ten minutes by car from Betzenberg and is successful as a board member of financial advice.

1. FC Köln: A big name in German football

The 1. FC Köln is one of the largest and most important sports clubs in Germany with over 111,000 members. The association was founded in 1948 by the merger of the Cologne Ballspiel Club (KBC) 1901 and the Sülz 07 game association. In its impressive history, FC won the German championship three times and celebrated numerous successes in the DFB Cup.

The first Bundesliga championship won the FC in the 1963/64 season. In addition, the club has been in ninth place in the eternal table of the Bundesliga. The home games played in the Rheinenergie Stadium, a stadium newly built in 1975 with later renovations, are also part of the club identity. In addition to the men's football team, FC also has a women's team, various junior teams as well as departments for handball and table tennis.

success and challenges

The greatest success story of the 1st FC Köln includes the winning of the DFB Cup in four different years and participation in the UEFA Cup final 1986.

But the history of the association was also characterized by challenges. The first descent to the 2nd Bundesliga took place in the 1997/98 season, and overall the FC had six descents and just as many ascents. The team is currently managed by head coach Steffen Baumgart, and the current squad comprises 30 actors.

The attraction of football in Germany

football is not just a sport, but a passion that combines more than 6.5 million members in over 27,000 clubs in Germany. The Bundesliga, which was founded in 1963, ensures an exciting competitive situation and high athletic density. The German Football Association (DFB) is the largest national sports association in the world and organizes both men's and women's league and cup competitions.

The fan culture of German football has developed strikingly since the 1970s and is an integral part of social life. The combination of regional identities, passionate support and the involvement of families such as that of Helmut shows how deep football fever is rooted in German society.