The 1. FC Köln has announced the appointment of Lukas Kwasniok as its new head coach, effective from the start of the new season. The 43-year-old trainer, previously at SC Paderborn, has signed a contract with the Bundesliga club until June 30, 2028. The terms of his departure from SC Paderborn have been kept confidential, according to the club’s statement.
FC Sport Director Thomas Kessler praised Kwasniok’s abilities, stating, “He has impressively demonstrated over several years that he can develop teams, make them play attractive and successful football and bring young players to higher challenges. His style of football, energy and ambition perfectly fit what we envision for the FC in the Bundesliga.”
Kwasniok expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, saying, “I had thought of taking a break, but as soon as Thomas Kessler contacted me, I knew I had to take this opportunity. It’s a dream club and a massive chance.”
Born in Poland, Kwasniok was a youth player at Karlsruher SC, but a career-ending injury prevented him from making the leap to the professional level. He later found success as a coach, leading the FC Carl Zeiss Jena and 1. FC Saarbrücken and establishing SC Paderborn as a top contender in the 2. Bundesliga, narrowly missing the promotion to the Bundesliga. Kwasniok’s individual move to 1. FC Köln has now secured his own promotion to the top tier.