By the time of his fatal accident, still not fully explained, Banach had scored ten goals in 18 league appearances in the bloated 1991/92 season. There are still plenty of observers around FC who believe that with Maurice Banach in the side, a permanent top-five place and perhaps even the third German title after 1964 and 1978 might have been possible. His death ended those hopes brutally.\n\nKöln had already missed out on the title as runners-up in 1989 and 1990, and after the Banach shock the fifth-place finish and UEFA Cup qualification in 1991/92 would remain the club’s best Bundesliga campaign for a long time.
It would take another 25 years before Cologne celebrated a UEFA Cup berth again.