FC Köln recruits former RB Salzburg coach.
Gerhard Struber has been named the new coach of 1. FC Köln, the club revealed. Previously, Struber was at RB Salzburg. He takes over from Timo Schultz, whose contract was not renewed following the team's relegation.
- FC Köln welcomes Austrian coach Gerhard Struber. The club confirmed the news. Struber was previously at RB Salzburg, but was let go in mid-April. He'll succeed Timo Schultz, whose contract wasn't renewed after the team's demotion.
"I'm excited about this challenge and am full of optimism," Struber said."I can't wait to meet the team, my coaches, and the fans." The club remained quiet about the length of his contract. Business manager Christian Keller stated that Struber fits "perfectly into our needs."
Relegation despite league leadership
Throughout his career, Struber has been connected to the RB empire. He began as an employee with various roles within the Salzburg youth department. He also coached the club's affiliate team, FC Liefering, and was part of RB New York in the US. Additionally, he held coaching positions in Austria at Wolfsberger AC and in England at FC Barnsley.
Struber's departure from Salzburg came in April, even though his team was leading the table six matches before the season's end. The previous three championship games ended in disappointing results, and the team was ousted from the national cup. Ironically, Salzburg missed the championship for the first time since 2013, as Sturm Graz took down the defending champs.
Struber's new job in Cologne will not be a walk in the park. The club is still dealing with a FIFA-imposed transfer ban for the summer, so major adjustments to the roster post-relegation are impossible. On a more positive note, key team players like Timo Hübers, Eric Martel, and Jan Thielmann have pledged to remain with the club despite buyout clauses. Many others have valid contracts.
