Struggling Cologne part ways with coach Baumgart

The club and the 51-year-old Baumgart are "ending their collaboration", Cologne said in a statement. "Steffen and his coaching team did an excellent job," said Cologne managing director Christian Keller.

Keller said the "painful" decision came after an "open, direct and respectful" conversation, where Baumgart "questioned his personal convictions" to remain at the club. Baumgart said "the club is above everything and although we've invested a lot in recent weeks, the results have been lacking.

"It hurts to leave but I am grateful for my time here." Baumgart joined Cologne in the summer of 2021 and took the club into the UEFA Conference League in his first season. Cologne, who lost 2-0 against fellow relegation battlers Union Berlin on Wednesday, have won just two of 16 matches this season.

Cologne have also faced challenges off the pitch, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport considering a possible transfer ban for the club. Earlier in December, Cologne were hit with a 595,000 euro fine after fans ignited pyrotechnics and threw objects on the field which delayed a match against derby rivals Borussia Moenchengladbach in October. The fine is the highest penalty ever levied for fan misconduct in German football.