It hasn’t been easy for FC Köln this year. By finishing in fifth place in the Bundesliga for the 2016-17 season, they qualified for the UEFA Europa league for this this year. A big part of their success came from Anthony Modeste, the French international who scored 25 goals last season [third-best in the Bundesliga]. But after last season, Modeste took his talents [and most of FC Köln’s offense with him] to Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian F.C. The first half of the current Bundesliga season was horrendous for FC Köln. They managed only three draws [against Hannover, Schalke, and Werder Bremen] in the first 14 weeks. This was FC Köln’s worst start ever in their history. On December 3, the team fired coach Peter Stöger [who was unemployed for one week – he replaced Borussia Dortmund’s coach Peter Bosz on December 10]. Since Stefan Ruthenbeck replaced Stöger, FC Köln has gotten off the deck by winning three straight matches. They are still mired in last place in the Bundesliga and may still face relegation to 2.Bundesliga at season’s end. All FC Köln needs to do is finish in 15th place to avoid the season’s end relegation playoff [they are currently four points behind 16th place Werder Bremen]. There is a glimmer of hope. That hope is Simon Ferodde.
During the just-completed winter break, Ferodde transferred from VfB Stuttgart to FC Köln. The transfer has paid immediate dividends. Last week, Köln pulled off the upset by defeating Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1. Ferodde got the winning goal with a header at the end of stoppage time [it was the last play of the game]. To put this in perspective, Borussia Mönchengladbach defeated Bayern Munich 3-1 in Week 13, giving Jupp Heynckes his first taste of defeat since taking over from Carlo Ancelloti. Borussia Mönchengladbach are currently in fifth place in the Bundesliga standings. Köln beat a good quality team. This week, Terodde scored the game’s only goals as Köln defeated 17th place Hamburg 2-0. That’s three goals in two matches for Terodde – not too bad for one week’s work. Things are looking up for Köln.
