Cologne sack Funkel
First Published: Oct 30, 2003Bundesliga strugglers Cologne sacked coach Friedhelm Funkel after two wins in ten league matches saw the three-time German champions slump to 16th in the German top flight.
Despite defeating fourth division VfL Wolfsburg Amateure 3-2 in the German Cup on Tuesday, Funkel's time at the helm has come to an abrupt end.
"We have parted ways with immediate effect," confirmed general manager Andreas Rettig. "The decision was by no means easy."
Funkel, who had been at Cologne since February 2002, becomes the fourth Bundesliga managerial casualty with just ten games played in the 2003/04 season.
Ewald Lienen and Kurt Jara were sacked by Borussia Monchengladbach and SV Hamburg respectively while Armin Veh threw in the towel at Hansa Rostock.
Former Grasshoppers coach Marcel Koller is reportedly in talks about replacing 49-year-old Funkel at the RheinEnergie Stadium.
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