BERLIN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- FC Cologne has appointed Rene Wagner as its permanent head coach on a contract running until 2028, confirming the former interim boss in charge after the club secured Bundesliga survival on Friday.
The 37-year-old coach had been on the touchline since late March, when Cologne parted company with Lukas Kwasniok, having previously worked under him as assistant coach. His first seven matches as Bundesliga head coach brought one win, three draws and three defeats, but proved enough to keep the promoted side in the top flight.
The decision gives Wagner a long-term mandate at the traditional club after a rapid rise from assistant to interim coach and now permanent head coach. He had already served at Cologne from 2021 to 2024 as part of Steffen Baumgart's staff, and worked for Hamburger SV, Union Berlin, Paderborn and in the United States.
"Rene convinced us in the discussions on several levels and with all those responsible," Cologne managing director Thomas Kessler said. "He has a high level of sporting competence, a clear and authentic leadership style and a very concrete idea of how we want to develop our team in the future."
Kessler said Wagner had shown he could provide direction in a demanding situation and unite people behind a shared goal. He added that the club were "firmly convinced" Wagner was the right head coach for Cologne's next stage.
Wagner said taking the job in the Bundesliga carried special meaning. "Five years ago, in my first season here, we reached the Conference League, only two years later I had to watch from afar as Cologne was relegated. That hurt," he said.
"This time we achieved survival. That was above everything else in the last weeks, and is the basis for taking another step together with the team towards becoming a stable Bundesliga club. I will give everything for that."
Wagner earned his UEFA Pro Licence in England before his chance to step up arrived earlier than expected. ■
