1. FC Köln managerial and seasonal developments

1. FC Köln entered the 2023–24 Bundesliga season under head coach René Wagner, who was promoted from within the club. Following a period of managerial changes, the team struggled early in the season, collecting six points from seven matches and eventually finishing 14th, narrowly avoiding the relegation playoff spot.

During the season, Wagner shared an emotional account of a young woman who visited the team during training to fulfill her final wish of seeing the squad. Wagner noted that he addressed the encounter in a team speech to highlight the club’s emotional significance and the responsibility the players carry.

Ahead of a Bundesliga match against VfB Stuttgart, Wagner revisited this emotional connection, noting how the experience served as motivation for the players. On the pitch, striker Imad Rondic made a significant comeback during the match against Stuttgart. After being sidelined and excluded from first-team training for much of the previous campaign, Rondic appeared as a substitute in the final minutes. Wagner praised the player’s dedication, stating that Rondic had worked hard through individual training sessions to earn his return to the Bundesliga pitch.