Welcome to the Heart of the World

Cologne is a unique city - founded by the Romans some 2000 years ago, it still has a somewhat Latin character. It's a character reflected in the city's joyous ways, culminating in the famous carnival. Cologne's special spirit also shows in the city's relaxed way of life - it is quite difficult to resist its charme. No wonder that, with a little twinkle, the locals refer to their little paradise as the Heart of the World.

It is just as difficult to resist the city's main football club. Cologne F.C. is something like the soul of Cologne - a club that has gone through ups and downs, but always captured the public's imagination. Although their last championship was nearly a quarter of a century ago, the club still has a loyal following full of high hopes.

After a long period of decline had ended in relegation in 1998, Cologne F.C. came back to first division football last year. Under the guidance of coach Ewald Lienen, the second youngest team in the league impressed as the best promoted side of 2000-01, and even stayed in the race for a UEFA cup spot until three weeks left in the season. And while nobody knows what the future will bring, there are hopes of a return to where the club used to be for many years.

For decades, Cologne F.C. were constantly among Germany's leading clubs. Men like Hans Schäfer, Wolfgang Overath and Pierre Littbarski displayed their class on the national and European club level, and were on World Cup winning sides. Goalies like Toni Schumacher and Bodo Illgner, defenders like Leo Wilden and Bernd Cullmann, midfielders like Heinz Flohe and Thomas Hässler, forwards like Hannes Löhr and Dieter Müller - they belonged to the best in their profession, and memories of their glory days are still very vivid. So are the recollections of coaches who led them to fame - men like Hennes Weisweiler and Tchik Tchaikovski, for example.

Today, young men like Markus Pröll, Thomas Cichon, Dirk Lottner or Christian Timm are about to fill their shoes. And with the club benefitting from the best leadership in years, represented by coach Lienen, chairman Albert Caspers and athletic director Hannes Linssen, the future doesn't look bad at all. Renovation of the club's ground at Müngersdorf will start in December 2001, making Cologne F.C. ready for another step forward.

This is what this site is all about. It covers Cologne F.C.'s many faces, from the past to the present. It is about triumphs and tragedies, hits and misses, tears of joy and tears of desperation. From great games and great people of the past, to current match reports, from statistical figures to features which might seem off-topic, but help understand the club and its home town - come in and meet the Heart of the World's football club.