1. FC Köln Quiz
How well do you know 1. FC Köln? Test yourself on the 1978 double, Littbarski, Podolski, Modeste and the 2021 relegation play-off in Kiel.
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easy
Lukas Podolski ended his second spell at Köln in summer 2012 by joining which club?
WhyHis new club announced the deal in spring 2012, after Podolski scored 18 Bundesliga goals in his final Köln season. -
easy
In September 2017, a Europa League group game was delayed by an hour after thousands of travelling Köln fans arrived in London. Which club's stadium was it?
WhyThe game at the Emirates was delayed by an hour because of crowd problems; the hosts won 3-1. -
medium
Köln reached the European Cup semi-finals in 1979. Which club knocked them out?
WhyAfter a 3-3 draw in Nottingham, Köln lost 1-0 at home; Forest went on to win the trophy. -
medium
Midfielder Thomas Häßler left Köln in 1990, shortly after winning the World Cup with West Germany. Which club did he join?
WhyHäßler spent 1990-91 at Juventus before moving on to Roma. -
hard
After Köln's first-ever Bundesliga relegation in 1998, Austrian striker Toni Polster left to join which Bundesliga club?
WhyPolster moved for 1998-99, a season that ended with his new club relegated too. -
medium
At Euro 2016, Köln left-back Jonas Hector scored Germany's winning penalty in a quarter-final shootout against which nation?
WhyHector beat Gianluigi Buffon with Germany's ninth penalty in Bordeaux to knock Italy out. -
medium
Köln lost the 1986 UEFA Cup final over two legs to which club?
WhyThe Spanish side won the first leg 5-1; Köln's 2-0 home-leg win, played in Berlin, was not enough. -
hard
Japanese forward Yuya Osako joined Köln in 2014 from which 2. Bundesliga club?
WhyOsako played half a season at 1860 Munich after arriving from Kashima Antlers, then moved to Köln in summer 2014. -
medium
Christoph Daum left Köln in 1990 and won the Bundesliga in 1992 with which club?
WhyDaum's side took the 1991-92 title on the final day. -
medium
On the final day of the 1977-78 Bundesliga, Köln won 5-0 at FC St. Pauli to take the title on goal difference. Which rival finished level on points despite winning 12-0 that afternoon?
WhyThe rivals' 12-0 win was not enough; Köln won the title by three goals on goal difference and completed the double. -
hard
Köln's FIFA transfer ban, served in 2024, came from signing teenager Jaka Čuber Potočnik from which club?
WhyFIFA found that Köln had induced Potočnik to break his contract with Olimpija Ljubljana, and CAS upheld the ban on two registration windows. -
medium
Köln won the 1983 DFB-Pokal final 1-0 with a Pierre Littbarski goal. Who were their opponents?
WhyThe 1983 final was a Cologne derby against second-tier SC Fortuna Köln. -
medium
Midfielder Ellyes Skhiri joined Köln in 2019 from which French club?
WhyThe Tunisia international came from Montpellier and left for Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023. -
hard
Academy left-back Ismail Jakobs was sold by Köln in 2021 to which club?
WhyJakobs joined Monaco in July 2021 and later moved on to Galatasaray in 2024. -
medium
Christoph Daum led Köln back to the Bundesliga in 2008, then left in 2009 to coach which club?
WhyDaum returned to Fenerbahçe in 2009. He did not go to Club Brugge until 2011. -
medium
Sacked by Köln in December 2017, Peter Stöger took charge of which Bundesliga club a week later?
WhyStöger replaced Peter Bosz at Dortmund and finished the 2017-18 season in charge there. -
hard
Köln signed striker Jhon Córdoba in summer 2017 from which Bundesliga club?
WhyCórdoba came from Mainz 05 in June 2017, as Köln prepared to lose Anthony Modeste to China. -
medium
Before joining Köln in 2021, Steffen Baumgart had taken which club up to the Bundesliga?
WhyBaumgart led Paderborn to promotion in 2019, then guided Köln to seventh in his first season. -
medium
Anthony Modeste joined Köln in summer 2015 from which Bundesliga club?
WhyModeste arrived from Hoffenheim in 2015, after earlier spells at Bordeaux and on loan at Blackburn. -
hard
Simon Terodde, top scorer in the 2. Bundesliga during Köln's 2018-19 title season, had joined Köln in January 2018 from which club?
WhyTerodde arrived mid-season in 2017-18. He later joined Hamburg in 2020. -
medium
Bodo Illgner, West Germany's goalkeeper at the 1990 World Cup, left Köln in 1996 for which Spanish club?
WhyIllgner moved to Spain in 1996 and kept goal in his new club's 1998 Champions League final win. -
medium
With Friedhelm Funkel in charge, Köln survived the 2021 relegation play-off against which club?
WhyKöln lost the home leg 1-0, then won 5-1 in Kiel to stay up. -
hard
Pierre Littbarski left Köln in 1993 to play in Japan's new J.League for which club?
WhyLittbarski joined JEF United Ichihara in 1993 and later played for Brummell Sendai. -
medium
Köln sold Jhon Córdoba in 2020 to which Bundesliga club?
WhyCórdoba joined Hertha in September 2020 after 13 Bundesliga goals in 2019-20, then moved on to Krasnodar in 2021. -
medium
Peter Stöger took over at Köln in 2013, having just won the Austrian Bundesliga title with which club?
WhyStöger led Austria Wien to the 2012-13 Austrian title, then won promotion with Köln as 2. Bundesliga champions in 2014. -
hard
Anthony Modeste scored 25 Bundesliga goals for Köln in 2016-17 before moving in summer 2017 to which Chinese club?
WhyModeste left for Tianjin Quanjian in July 2017, and Köln signed Jhon Córdoba to replace him. -
medium
After Köln's 2018 relegation, Japanese forward Yuya Osako moved to which Bundesliga club?
WhyOsako joined Werder Bremen in summer 2018, four years after arriving at Köln from 1860 Munich. -
easy
Lukas Podolski returned to Köln in 2009 after three seasons at which club?
WhyPodolski left Köln for Bayern in 2006 and came back in 2009. -
hard
In the 2022 Europa Conference League play-off round, Köln beat which Hungarian club to reach the group stage?
WhyKöln beat Fehérvár over two legs, and their group then included Nice, Partizan and Slovácko. -
hard
Hennes Weisweiler returned to coach Köln in 1976 after one season in charge of which club?
WhyWeisweiler spent 1975-76 at Barcelona, where he clashed with Johan Cruyff, before going back to Köln and winning the 1978 double. -
hard
1. FC Köln was formed in February 1948 by a merger of SpVgg Sülz 07 and which other Cologne club?
WhyKölner BallSpiel-Club 01 merged with SpVgg Sülz 07 on 13 February 1948 to create 1. FC Köln.
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1. FC Köln in the record books
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About 1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln was formed on 13 February 1948, when Kölner BallSpiel-Club 01 merged with SpVgg Sülz 07. This quiz follows the club from that merger to the present day. It covers the title races, the European nights, the big transfers in and out, and the managers who came and went.
Start with the glory years. Hennes Weisweiler came back to Köln in 1976 after a season at Barcelona. On the final day of 1977-78 his side won 5-0 at FC St. Pauli. Borussia Mönchengladbach won 12-0 that afternoon, but Köln still took the title on goal difference and completed the double. In 1979 Köln reached the European Cup semi-finals, drawing 3-3 in Nottingham before losing 1-0 at home to Nottingham Forest. In 1983 they won the DFB-Pokal 1-0 against SC Fortuna Köln with a Pierre Littbarski goal. Three years later they lost the UEFA Cup final to Real Madrid.
Plenty of famous names moved on. Thomas Häßler joined Juventus in 1990, Littbarski left for JEF United Ichihara in Japan's new J.League in 1993, and Bodo Illgner went to Real Madrid in 1996. After Köln's first Bundesliga relegation in 1998, Toni Polster joined Gladbach. Lukas Podolski left for Bayern Munich in 2006, came back in 2009 and joined Arsenal in 2012. Christoph Daum had two spells. He left in 1990 and won the 1992 Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart. He then led Köln back to the Bundesliga in 2008 and left for Fenerbahçe in 2009.
The modern era has plenty of twists too. Peter Stöger arrived from Austria Wien in 2013 and won the 2. Bundesliga title in 2014. Anthony Modeste scored 25 Bundesliga goals in 2016-17 before leaving for Tianjin Quanjian. Jonas Hector scored Germany's winning penalty against Italy at Euro 2016. Köln survived the 2021 relegation play-off against Holstein Kiel under Friedhelm Funkel, and Steffen Baumgart led them to seventh in his first season. Think you know it all? Take the quiz and find out.
1. FC Köln quiz answers, explained
Every question from the quiz above. Play it first; each answer stays folded until you open it.
Lukas Podolski ended his second spell at Köln in summer 2012 by joining which club?
Show answer
Arsenal. His new club announced the deal in spring 2012, after Podolski scored 18 Bundesliga goals in his final Köln season.
In September 2017, a Europa League group game was delayed by an hour after thousands of travelling Köln fans arrived in London. Which club's stadium was it?
Show answer
Arsenal. The game at the Emirates was delayed by an hour because of crowd problems; the hosts won 3-1.
Köln reached the European Cup semi-finals in 1979. Which club knocked them out?
Show answer
Nottingham Forest. After a 3-3 draw in Nottingham, Köln lost 1-0 at home; Forest went on to win the trophy.
Midfielder Thomas Häßler left Köln in 1990, shortly after winning the World Cup with West Germany. Which club did he join?
Show answer
Juventus. Häßler spent 1990-91 at Juventus before moving on to Roma.
After Köln's first-ever Bundesliga relegation in 1998, Austrian striker Toni Polster left to join which Bundesliga club?
Show answer
Borussia Mönchengladbach. Polster moved for 1998-99, a season that ended with his new club relegated too.
At Euro 2016, Köln left-back Jonas Hector scored Germany's winning penalty in a quarter-final shootout against which nation?
Show answer
Italy. Hector beat Gianluigi Buffon with Germany's ninth penalty in Bordeaux to knock Italy out.
Köln lost the 1986 UEFA Cup final over two legs to which club?
Show answer
Real Madrid. The Spanish side won the first leg 5-1; Köln's 2-0 home-leg win, played in Berlin, was not enough.
Japanese forward Yuya Osako joined Köln in 2014 from which 2. Bundesliga club?
Show answer
TSV 1860 Munich. Osako played half a season at 1860 Munich after arriving from Kashima Antlers, then moved to Köln in summer 2014.
Christoph Daum left Köln in 1990 and won the Bundesliga in 1992 with which club?
Show answer
VfB Stuttgart. Daum's side took the 1991-92 title on the final day.
On the final day of the 1977-78 Bundesliga, Köln won 5-0 at FC St. Pauli to take the title on goal difference. Which rival finished level on points despite winning 12-0 that afternoon?
Show answer
Borussia Mönchengladbach. The rivals' 12-0 win was not enough; Köln won the title by three goals on goal difference and completed the double.
Köln's FIFA transfer ban, served in 2024, came from signing teenager Jaka Čuber Potočnik from which club?
Show answer
Olimpija Ljubljana. FIFA found that Köln had induced Potočnik to break his contract with Olimpija Ljubljana, and CAS upheld the ban on two registration windows.
Köln won the 1983 DFB-Pokal final 1-0 with a Pierre Littbarski goal. Who were their opponents?
Show answer
SC Fortuna Köln. The 1983 final was a Cologne derby against second-tier SC Fortuna Köln.
Midfielder Ellyes Skhiri joined Köln in 2019 from which French club?
Show answer
Montpellier. The Tunisia international came from Montpellier and left for Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023.
Academy left-back Ismail Jakobs was sold by Köln in 2021 to which club?
Show answer
Monaco. Jakobs joined Monaco in July 2021 and later moved on to Galatasaray in 2024.
Christoph Daum led Köln back to the Bundesliga in 2008, then left in 2009 to coach which club?
Show answer
Fenerbahçe. Daum returned to Fenerbahçe in 2009. He did not go to Club Brugge until 2011.
Sacked by Köln in December 2017, Peter Stöger took charge of which Bundesliga club a week later?
Show answer
Borussia Dortmund. Stöger replaced Peter Bosz at Dortmund and finished the 2017-18 season in charge there.
Köln signed striker Jhon Córdoba in summer 2017 from which Bundesliga club?
Show answer
1. FSV Mainz 05. Córdoba came from Mainz 05 in June 2017, as Köln prepared to lose Anthony Modeste to China.
Before joining Köln in 2021, Steffen Baumgart had taken which club up to the Bundesliga?
Show answer
SC Paderborn. Baumgart led Paderborn to promotion in 2019, then guided Köln to seventh in his first season.
Anthony Modeste joined Köln in summer 2015 from which Bundesliga club?
Show answer
TSG Hoffenheim. Modeste arrived from Hoffenheim in 2015, after earlier spells at Bordeaux and on loan at Blackburn.
Simon Terodde, top scorer in the 2. Bundesliga during Köln's 2018-19 title season, had joined Köln in January 2018 from which club?
Show answer
VfB Stuttgart. Terodde arrived mid-season in 2017-18. He later joined Hamburg in 2020.
Bodo Illgner, West Germany's goalkeeper at the 1990 World Cup, left Köln in 1996 for which Spanish club?
Show answer
Real Madrid. Illgner moved to Spain in 1996 and kept goal in his new club's 1998 Champions League final win.
With Friedhelm Funkel in charge, Köln survived the 2021 relegation play-off against which club?
Show answer
Holstein Kiel. Köln lost the home leg 1-0, then won 5-1 in Kiel to stay up.
Pierre Littbarski left Köln in 1993 to play in Japan's new J.League for which club?
Show answer
JEF United Ichihara. Littbarski joined JEF United Ichihara in 1993 and later played for Brummell Sendai.
Köln sold Jhon Córdoba in 2020 to which Bundesliga club?
Show answer
Hertha BSC. Córdoba joined Hertha in September 2020 after 13 Bundesliga goals in 2019-20, then moved on to Krasnodar in 2021.
Peter Stöger took over at Köln in 2013, having just won the Austrian Bundesliga title with which club?
Show answer
Austria Wien. Stöger led Austria Wien to the 2012-13 Austrian title, then won promotion with Köln as 2. Bundesliga champions in 2014.
Anthony Modeste scored 25 Bundesliga goals for Köln in 2016-17 before moving in summer 2017 to which Chinese club?
Show answer
Tianjin Quanjian. Modeste left for Tianjin Quanjian in July 2017, and Köln signed Jhon Córdoba to replace him.
After Köln's 2018 relegation, Japanese forward Yuya Osako moved to which Bundesliga club?
Show answer
Werder Bremen. Osako joined Werder Bremen in summer 2018, four years after arriving at Köln from 1860 Munich.
Lukas Podolski returned to Köln in 2009 after three seasons at which club?
Show answer
Bayern Munich. Podolski left Köln for Bayern in 2006 and came back in 2009.
In the 2022 Europa Conference League play-off round, Köln beat which Hungarian club to reach the group stage?
Show answer
Fehérvár. Köln beat Fehérvár over two legs, and their group then included Nice, Partizan and Slovácko.
Hennes Weisweiler returned to coach Köln in 1976 after one season in charge of which club?
Show answer
Barcelona. Weisweiler spent 1975-76 at Barcelona, where he clashed with Johan Cruyff, before going back to Köln and winning the 1978 double.
1. FC Köln was formed in February 1948 by a merger of SpVgg Sülz 07 and which other Cologne club?
Show answer
Kölner BC 01. Kölner BallSpiel-Club 01 merged with SpVgg Sülz 07 on 13 February 1948 to create 1. FC Köln.
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