History & Honours

On Friday 13th Febrzary 1948m Kölner BC 01 and SpVgg Sülz 07 fused to form 1. Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e.V. – and a club was born like no other.

Franz Kremer was voted in as the first President. He belonged to a group of visionaries who, following the war, realised that small, traditional club needed to come together in order to form a side that would be successful outside of the city. For years, background work was done. With KBC and Sülz 07, two clubs and their members were ready to set aside the provincial identity in order to achieve much greater things. From the very first day, the setting of goals was always made with one question in mind. It was a question that Franz Kremer asked at the foundation meeting: “Do you want to be German champions with me?”

In 1962, Kremer’s vision became a reality. For the first time, 1. FC Köln were German champions. The picture of captain Hans Schäfer, after full-time in Berlin where he thrusts the title in the air, is one FC fans immediately recognise. Kremer, who was affectionately known as “the Boss”, pushed FC to professional structures early on and always came up with new and revolutionary ideas. The idea to turn a goat into the club mascot, to not only have a head coach but also a goalkeeper coach, to turn Geißbockheim and Müngersdorfer Stadion into important and modern infrastructural hubs, as well as not letting new signings be a game of chance. It was important to never lose the regional touch despite the professionalisation. Therefore, the team came largely from Köln or the area surrounding the city. But for success, FC were always ready to look beyond the borders. Spectacular signings from abroad made headlines. Many clubs took 1. FC Köln as their inspiration.

It was almost a logical consequence that the first Bundesliga title was celebrated in Köln. Franz Kremer stood firm despite doubters and questions from the conservative powers in German football in order to form a nationwide, professional league. From there on, FC were involved in the title fight. In 1978, the club enjoyed the most successful season in its history. A league and cup double. In five further seasons, FC finished as runners-up (1965, 1973, 1982, 1989 and 1990).

A symbolic record. Often, FC is close to the goals but the last step proves to be a problem. This is a part of FC history just like the success. But no defeat has completely thrown 1. FC Köln off course. Drama and emotions have never been lacking in the club and that is a huge part of the fascination surrounding the club.

1. FC Köln has produced many great footballers. The list is long. Be it Jupp Röhrig, Hans Schäfer, Wolfgang Overath, Wolfgang Weber, Heinz Flohe, Dieter Müller, Pierre Littbarski, Thomas Häßler, Toni Schumacher, Bodo Illgner or Lukas Podolski. Even with all their individual talent, they all have something in common: they were part of a team and coaches helped them to their incredible performances.

In 1998, FC were relegated for the first time, as the second-last founding member of the Bundesliga. A huge shock for everyone and all fans, who had a heart for FC. The sadness and grief were followed by an incredible wave of support, sympathy and loyalty. New fan clubs were started and the number of members grew. The number currently lies over 130,000 and there are around 900 official fan clubs. Despite the sixth relegation in 2018, the fans stayed true to their club. Kölner stick by their team. In the Hymne, it doesn’t say “when it must, go through the fire” for no reason.

In 2016-17, FC returned to the European stage for the first time in 25 years after qualification for the UEFA Europa League. As euphoric as the season began, so quickly that changed and disappeared. Despite their best efforts, FC were relegated to the second tier once more. 12 months that summed the club up. Most clubs would have broken apart but not FC. Jonas Hector, Marco Höger, Timo Horn, Marcel Risse and Matthias Lehmann went into the second division with the club and helped secure a return to the Bundesliga. Since then, FC have been in the top tier and continue to establish themselves in the Bundesliga. FC remains the same club that was founded by Franz Kremer all those years ago.

1. FC Köln is no ordinary club. It is special.

Because fans and members stay true to the club, even when it doesn’t win titles. Because the stadium is sold out in the 2. Bundesliga. Because it has humour and still remains professional.

It represents the heart and soul of Köln, the fourth biggest city in Germany. You feel it when Hennes runs into the stadium and when the team the wear the Karneval kits. Not many cities stand behind their club like in Köln: 80% of the Kölner feel a closeness to FC and are interested in how the club performances. The identification with the residents and the city can be felt through openness at Geißbockheim, in the middle of the Grüngürtel.

In 2023, the club surpassed the 130,000-member mark – with over half coming from Köln and the surrounding area. There are over 950 fan clubs, from Germany, from Belgium, England, Spain, USA and also Canada, Costa Rica, Brazil and Nigeria. Financially, FC are an important factor for Köln, and partners and sponsors of the club build the biggest business network in Rheinland.

With the 1. FC Köln Foundation, the club shows that social engagement is an important part of the philosophy. FC take their social responsibility on in the fullest. Part of that is securing a safe future for academy players, first-team members, employees and the coming generations. FC want to actively protect the environment within the club and to be a role model for others as well as being socially and ecologically conscious in the heart of all Köln residents.

The world of sports currently is undergoing a change. Digitalisation processes and new ideals aren’t just changing how training is managed and measured but also the experience within the stadium, communication and marketing. Startups across the world have many exciting ideas and business models and want to give new impulses to the entire sports branch. 1. FC Köln have been actively pushing this development since 2018 and support selected young companies in their own programme.

The 1. FC Köln Accelerator was the first Sport Tech Accelerator within the Bundesliga and offers innovative companies a 12-week intensive programme, in order to test their ideas and business models in a real-world environment and to network with sport and business experts. In eSports, FC are also at the forefront with their own team of professional FIFA players on the go since 2021-22.

That is 1. FC Köln. We are just different.

In March 2002, the business operations were spun off into 1. FC Köln GmbH & Co. KGaA.

The Generel Meeting of 1. Fußball-Club Köln 01/07 e.V. retained its statutory autonomy and still elect the club’s Presidents. This board exercises the control rights for the club and the rights to appoint the Managing Directors of 1. FC Köln Verwaltungs GmbH (liable for and manages the KGaA). At club level, the Board of Directors is controlled by the Members' Council elected at the General Meeting and advised by the Advisory Board. At the level of the main affiliated companies of the Association, the Board of Directors requires the approval of the Joint Committee for transactions of particular economic importance in the internal relationship.

Dr. Christian Keller, Markus Rejek, Philipp Türoff