Key Figures
2017) — "De Knoll": He is the greatest player in 1. FC Köln's pre-Bundesliga era. A "Hero of Bern" and the only player from the 1954 World Cup-winning squad to become German champion in the Bundesliga. At the end of the 1963/64 season, Hans Schäfer retired as the first Köln icon of the new era…
The "Rastelli": One of the most brilliant midfield playmakers of his time. His rivalry with Gladbach's Günter Netzer was legendary. Overath won the battle at the 1974 home World Cup, playing in the final against Holland (2-1), while Netzer did not. As an FC player, he was a one-club man and all-time great…
1983) — The "Don": No other FC coach was as successful as "Don" Hennes Weisweiler. With the cup victory in 1977 and the "Double" in 1978, "Don Hennes" shaped the last truly successful era in the club's history, when Köln were among the German and European elite. His lovably gruff manner is missed to this day…
"The Prince": Köln fans would probably have forgiven him even a move to Gladbach or Leverkusen. No other player achieved such popularity at the FC after 1993 and Pierre Littbarski's departure as Lukas Podolski. The boy from Bergheim conquered the city with his infectious grin and thunderous left foot…
The dribbler: Pierre Littbarski moved from Hertha Zehlendorf to Köln in the summer of 1978 for 13,000 Deutsche Mark. He dropped his trainee position in the tax office and competed with Roger van Gool for the right-wing spot under coach Hennes Weisweiler. Littbarski won the battle and became one of the most skilful German players of the 1980s…
Trouble from the start: Bernd Schuster transferred from FC Augsburg to 1. FC Köln in 1978, having already signed a contract with Borussia Mönchengladbach. After 61 Bundesliga appearances and ten goals for Köln, "the blond angel" moved to FC Barcelona in Spain in the summer of 1980 — leaving a trail of controversy behind…
