Max Kofler: Die Revolution

Its good to get off to a start with a least a point from the first two games. It will be a tough season, it always is being a newly promoted team ,every team sees you as an opportunity for an easy 3 points. But with the side you've assembled, I don't think that will be the case.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

After collecting a solitary point from our opening two games, we were keen to ensure we picked up the tempo in September. A sold-out crowd of 50,000 played witness to a 2-0 victory, as we defeated Eintracht Frankfurt in a fantastic second-half display at the RheinEnergieStadion. Mario Pasalic struck well from the edge of the area to put us in front, prior to Vincent Koziello doubling the lead, four minutes from time.

Showing similar determination and grittiness, we were able to rescue a point against SC Freiburg. Substitute Florian Kainz equalised just two minutes after Phillip Lienhart appeared to hand his side all three points with eight minutes to go, heading home from a delightful cross from Louis Schaub.

Another excellent home victory followed against a highly-defensive Stuttgart side, who sought to soak up the pressure and look to counter, however did so to no avail. The visitors were limited to just two shots over the entirety of the ninety minutes, proving no match for Köln, with goals coming from Mario Pasalic and Louis Schaub. Our victory also came with the cost of earning a second clean-sheet of the season - a third in all-competitions.

The victory brought us to our final game of the month, as we travelled to face Borussia Dortmund. Signing from Celtic earlier in the summer, Odsonne Edouard was on-hand to give his side the lead after nine minutes, as Köln geared up for what appeared to be a long afternoon.

However, the visitors instead grew into the game as the first-half ticked on and eventually equalised after thirty-two minutes. Louis Schaub would score his third goal in as many games, as he placed his effort beautifully past Roman Bürki in the Dortmund goal.

The game continued to rage on, with no side able to create an opportunity to score a second. But, Sofiane Alakouch fashioned a chance when he whipped the ball into the box with two minutes to go, as Alan Franco mistimed his header and was unable to clear. This allowed the ball to fall to Florian Kainz at the far-post, who smashed the ball home. His goal prompted huge celebrations on the touchline, as Max Kofler celebrated with his staff and players on the bench.

It was a fantastic ending to the month, as Köln celebrated their biggest victory of the season, whilst Max Kofler pulled off, arguably, the greatest result of his managerial career thus far. Yet another late goal proving that you can never write this young Köln side off whilst there is still football to be played.


1. FSV Mainz 05 were enjoying a remarkable start to the season, as they sat top of the Bundesliga. They were joined by TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, as both sides had a total of sixteen points to their name after six games. Bayern Munich were just behind on thirteen, whilst Koln completed the top four, appearing on eleven points - in-front of RB Leipzig courtesy of their goal-difference.

1. FC Nürnberg remained bottom of the pile on three points. They recorded a 1-0 victory over SC Freiburg, but due to their inferior goal-difference, were unable to overtake FC Schalke 04, who were having a dismal start to the season - recording their only win against VfB Stuttgart at the end of August. Hannover 96 occupied the relegation play-off place, for the time-being, a point ahead of the two sides below them.

October would present us four fixtures over the duration of the month - including three home fixtures, initially beginning with our only away fixture against Hamburger SV. This would be followed by games against Hertha Berlin and FC Schalke 04, prior to the DFB-Pokal second round tie against SG Dynamo Dresden.

Replies

LFC: Despite being unable to add to their tallies this month, they're still hugely important players in our system. Joel is a great impact-sub, especially. We've seen it countless times what he can do.

Justice: Sometimes you have players that you can always rely on, that man, for me, is Joel Pohjanpalo <3 always has been, always will (it seems!)

Maguire: I hope not. We have big aspirations this season and I think September was a perfect insight as to what we are capable of.

A very impressive month! A massive win against Dortmund will show Max’s intentions. Sitting in the top 4 after two months of football is a great place to be and I hope that Koln will be in that top 4 come the end of the season!

An outstanding month, just incredible! It shows how well you recruited in the summer window, and you are really making a huge statement to the rest of the Bundesliga that you aren't there just to compete, but to win! Well done!

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

After the success of September, Köln were keen on continuing their form throughout October. They began their quest against Hamburger SV - who finished as runners-up to Effzeh last season in 2. Bundesliga. A consolation from Fiete Arp in the ninety-fourth minute proved to be the hosts only saving grace, in a 3-1 defeat.

Looking to back their victory up, Köln were unable to do so during matchday eight's opening fixture of the weekend against Hertha Berlin. Both teams were able to fashion chances, but lacked the finishing touches needed to put their side in front and deliver the goal to separate the two sides.

FC Schalke 04 were next to visit the RheinEnergieStadion, as they sought to improve their woeful start to the season. After finishing fifth last season, Schalke found themselves languishing in the relegation play-off place at the end of October. They were unable to improve their position, suffering a 2-0 loss against an inspired Köln team, who battered the visitors off the pitch with another impressive performance in-front of the home faithful.

Turning their attentions to the DFB-Pokal, Max Kofler made a few subtle changes ahead of the game against SG Dynamo Dresden. Tomas Soucek provided the difference, as the 2. Bundesliga side pressed late on, but were denied by Timo Horn, who remained alert to every effort thrown at him. Köln's victory allowed them to progress into the third-round, where they will meet 1. FSV Mainz 05.


Köln's opponents in the DFB-Pokal third round remained top of the Bundesliga, two points clear of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich. Mainz recovered after a disappointing 3-0 loss against Eintracht Frankfurt to begin the month, beating both Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Leizpig, in their next two games during October. Bayern were slowly progressing through the gears, as they sought to win back their Bundesliga title.

Bayer Leverkusen completed the top four, as they sat a point ahead of Köln. Meanwhile, last season's Bundesliga champions, Borussia Dortmund, were improving after a horrific start and had moved up to sixth.

1. FC Nürnberg remain at the foot of the table, accompanied by FC Schalke 04 in the relegation zone. Both sides have lost seven of their nine games, so far. Borussia Mönchengladbach remain outside the bottom two on goal-difference, whilst Hannover 96 and VfB Stuttgart sit a point clear.

November is a brief month for Köln, beginning with a trip to bottom-side 1. FC Nürnberg, before hosting another side towards the bottom, Hannover 96. The month concludes with another away trip, with Effzeh facing TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.

Replies

LFC: It's an impressive start, definitely. The result against Dortmund certainly made our intentions clear and showcased that the squad have the ability to live up to the expectations put upon them by Max. There's a lot of football still to be played, but this is a pleasing start and sets a precedent for how we want to continue on.

Maguire: The early results are really pleasing and seem to justify the money spent to recruit the group of new signings made.

Another fantastic month, with this form you could see yourselves qualifying for European competition straight after promotion!

You really gave those Hamburgers the sausage there! Doing incredibly well in the league, could even secure European football with this kind of form!

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

November was short and sweet in its supply of football. We began the month with a trip to 1. FC Nürnberg expecting three points against the side who sat at the foot of the table. However, we were unable to force a breakthrough in a disappointing afternoon, as the hosts held on for a valuable point.

We returned home next to face Hannover 96, in a much improved performance. A comfortable 3-0 victory could have been much more, with the hosts scoring all three goals within the first twenty-one minutes of the game.

Finally, November concluded with the task of an away trip to Hoffenheim. In a dull game, VAR was called into use when Rafael Czichos - who replaced Svetozar Markovic due to a slight-knock he picked prior to the game - was deemed to have forcefully challenged Andrej Kramaric in the area. A penalty was given, in which was taken by the Croatian. However, Timo Horn had a fantastic stop - guessing the right way and tipping the ball round the post, allowing his side to go six games without conceding a goal in all competitions.


Bayern Munich now led the way at the top of the Bundesliga, dislodging 1. FSV Mainz after their strong start to the season. The latter remained level on points, but had a slightly inferior goal-difference. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim sat four points adrift in third, whilst Bayer Leverkusen completed the top four, level on points with the side above them.

At the bottom, some improved form from 1. FC Nürnberg allowed them to move out of the relegation-zone. They propelled themselves into fifteenth, ahead of Borussia Mönchengladbach who sat a point behind them in the relegation-playoff spot. The bottom two was currently comprised of VfB Stuttgart on nine points and SC Freiburg on eight points, respectively.

December is arguably Köln's biggest challenge yet, beginning the month against Borussia Mönchengladbach, before travelling to RB Leipzig. Home games against Bayer Leverkusen and Max Kofler's former club, SV Werder Bremen, sit either side of a trip to the Allianz Arena to face league leaders Bayern Munich, before the winter-break comes into effect.

Replies

Firstly, I want to thank you all for your votes in June's 'Story of the Month' poll, in which allowed me to jointly-win the award, alongside Jack. I deeply appreciate it and I hope that the next month can be as successful for this story.

Maguire: That would be fantastic, but we're managing our expectations as we go and accordingly. If this form does continue though, we may find ourselves realistically targeting a place in either of the European competitions, which would be a great achievement.

Justice: It was a great win! As I said above, we'll have to see. It's important we don't get carried away just yet.

A poor result to start the month but everyone has their dips. To come back with a big 3-0 win and then a point against a side who have been challenging at the top throughout the year is a good way to go into a very tough December. The defense has been very impressive recently and that will hopefully continue throughout December and you can pick up some big points against some tough sides!

You might have drawn a lot of games (joint-most in the Bundesliga), but those clean sheets will prove vital come the end of season. Only Bayern Munich have conceded less, and you have the least amount of defeats all season. While that might change with an incredibly difficult December, you certainly already have more than half the points required for safety. If you can hit thirty points by the new year, perhaps you could consider the January transfer window as an opportunity to bring in one or two players who could propel you to European football!

You are still picking up points every game, which will bode well with your asprirations for a good campaign

A seriously impressive beginning to the top-flight for a newly promoted side with only one loss in your first twelve fixtures. Very interesting to see Schalke faring so poorly at the start, too!

---

Max Kofler has turned down the opportunity to take charge of Athletic Bilbao and will instead remain as 1. FC Köln head-coach, the club have announced.

Athletic Bilbao's bid to secure the services of FC Köln head-coach Max Kofler have proven to be unsuccessful, following talks between the two parties. Bilbao targeted the 39-year-old as their prime candidate to fill the vacant role left by previous manager Gaizka Garitano.

The 44-year-old was sacked by the Basque outfit after just seventeen months of service in the job. Bilbao finished seventh last season, which allowed them to qualify for the UEFA Europa League, after finishing in a disappointing sixteenth-placed finish the previous season.

Coming through the qualifiers with victories against Partizani Tirana, AZ Alkmaar and FC Midtjylland, Bilbao successfully came through the group-stages, finishing top of their group which consisted of Girondins de Bordeaux, Borussia Mönchengladbach and LASK Linz, dropping just two points.

However, Bilbao loomed precariously above the relegation-zone at the time of the Spaniard's sacking. After nine games without a win, a 0-0 draw against Celta de Vigo proved to be the final straw.

Meanwhile, Kofler has been hugely successful since taking the reigns at the RheinEnergieStadion, winning the 2. Bundesliga title last season, guiding the club back to the top flight after relegation. Köln currently sit fifth in the Bundesliga after a remarkable start to proceedings, losing just once in their opening thirteen games - in a 2-1 opening day defeat against 1. FSV Mainz 05.

His recruitment has been deemed a "huge success" by supporters, with the arrival of Denis Drăguș proving to be an example of the Austrian's shrewdness in the transfer market. The Romanian joined from Viitorul Constanța for a fee of £4,500,000 and has already scored five times this campaign, with his name shortlisted alongside the likes of Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappé for the FIFA Young Player of the Year award.

Kofler was clear in his long-term ambitions, stating he had no intention of leaving his current employers for the foreseeable future.

"The thought of leaving [Köln] has never crossed my mind. I'm contracted here for another two years and I will honour that deal. This club has given me a lot of faith and respect, which I intend to repay. We're building something special here, there's a lot of young talent and a clear plan in place for the future. I would be foolish to leave this behind, with respect to anyone interested in my services."

"To receive interest like this from a great football club like Bilbao shows that I must be doing something right. It's an honour." He continued.

"My focus is, and always will be, here [at Köln]. We're enjoying our football at the moment and are moving in the right direction. When we drew up our plans at the start of the year, we were adamant that we wanted to be more than just a club who sought to survive, but the players have gone above and beyond, so far. They're proving their worth."

Athletic Bilbao, reportedly, have turned their attention to CD Lugo manager Francisco Rufete. The former Valencia winger, now forty-three, took over the Segunda División side in February 2019, guiding the club to a twelfth-placed finish after a poor run of form under Alberto Monteagudo which led to his sacking. They currently sit seventh, with Rufete winning fifteen of his thirty-six games in charge - maintaining a win-percentage of 41%.

Replies

LFC: The defence have been the key to our success, I would argue. We have maintained a strong back-line all season and I'm surprised by how consistent they've been. The number of clean-sheets lately just shows the talent we have in our ranks, both in-terms of Timo Horn in goal, but also in the back-four with the likes of Dael Fry and his defence partners of Max, Markovic and Alakouch.

Justice: We're managing our aims accordingly. It's easy to get carried away by the impressive form and strong defensive record, but we have to be cool and calm. Each point is a step closer to achieving safety and then we can look to work our way up, ensuring we remain outside the relegation playoff-place and so on. The January window could be interesting, with the board still continuing to support us financially.

Maguire: Very much so!

Jack: Couldn't be happier so far. Schalke have been a huge disappointment. In fact, Max was linked with the job - touted as the favourite - but never received any official interest from them, not that he would have even accepted an interview anyway.

Rufete is an anagram of refute, which is what Max did to his links to the available job.

Doing better than expected on your return to the Bundesliga. Hopefully you can maintain your form and finish the season as strong as you've started.