1. FC Cologne has reportedly given coach Rene Wagner a significant ultimatum as the club prepares for a potential change in management. According to Express, an agreement has already been reached with Horst Steffen, the former coach of SV Werder Bremen, to take over should Wagner fail to secure a win against local rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach on October 11.
Read More
This decision follows a committee meeting, indicating that the team is bracing for a shift in leadership if the upcoming match does not yield favorable results. Steffen has already attended a reserve game at Geißbockheim, where he could have discussed the coaching position with managing director Thomas Kessler.
Wagner took the reins on an interim basis in March, succeeding Lukas Kwasniok, but his record has been disappointing, with only two wins across eleven Bundesliga matches in two seasons. This season, Cologne has managed to collect four points after four games.
If Wagner is dismissed, he would become the second manager to leave this season, following Gladbach's decision to part ways with Eugen Polanski. Steffen's previous tenure at Werder ended after 21 matches with an average of 0.9 points per game. Prior to that, he had narrowly missed promotion with SV Elversberg.