Newly promoted Lautern confirm three contract extensions and one new signing
The proactive Rote Teufel also unveiled their first new signing of the new season yesterday. Central defender Lars Bünning makes the switch from SV Meppen.
Im Märchen kommt der Prinz auf dem Pferd angallopiert, bei uns kommt er mit viel Tempo über die Außenbahn. Und das künftig auch in der Zweiten Liga. Kenny Prince Redondo bleibt ein Roter Teufel! #Betze pic.twitter.com/3HYczGQuKy
— 1. FC Kaiserslautern (@Rote_Teufel) May 28, 2022
Na, genießt ihr Euren Sonntag? Wir machen ihn noch besser: Hecke bleibt ein Roter Teufel 🔥 Unsere Nummer 23 brennt auch in der Zweiten Liga für den #Betze! pic.twitter.com/QAtzgAUewL
— 1. FC Kaiserslautern (@Rote_Teufel) May 29, 2022
In tying down Hercher and Redondo, the Rote Teufel locked down two regular and reliable starters who scored a combined eight league goals last season. On Tuesday, the club announced that flexible defender Kevin Kraus--a very important part of the team irrespective of the defensive set-up--would remain in the Palatinate as well.
Kraus joined the FCK just after the humiliating relegation to the third division in 2018 and has since made 124 appearances for the club. Most recently, he proved a vitally dependable cog in the back-four of newly installed trainer Dirk Schuster during the promotion-relegation playoffs.
Die Zweite Liga bekommt zur neuen Saison nicht nur die besten Fans, sondern auch den schönsten Schnorres. Kevin Kraus bleibt dem #Betze treu und wird auch künftig als Roter Teufel auflaufen. 💪👹 pic.twitter.com/XGZZe8wh8D
— 1. FC Kaiserslautern (@Rote_Teufel) May 31, 2022
The team also has its first potential upgrade in place ahead of the new season. SV Meppen starter Lars Bünning will make the jump to the second division together with his new club. The 24-year-old Hamburg native arrives on a free.
"We are pleased to have been able to sign Lars Bünning," managing director Thomas Hengen noted in a statement, "A young, well-trained central defender who is also versatile and brings the right mentality for the Betzenberg. The fact that he decided to join us before the end of the season shows us that he is committed to our project."
"I made a conscious decision in favor of FCK even before the relegation playoffs," Bünning himself added, "as this club would have been the only one for me to play in the 3rd division again. FCK has a very special appeal, a great stadium and incomparable fans. It's a great honor for me to be able to play for this club, and I'm looking forward to the challenges that await us in the second division."
Herzlich Willkommen auf dem #Betze 🔥Lars Bünning ist unser erster Neuzugang für die Saison 2022/23! Der gebürtige Hamburger verstärkt unser Team für die Zweite Liga. Mehr Infos zum Transfer findet ihr hier: https://t.co/Z2P5GKB7ed pic.twitter.com/Q97sMJ0OOV
— 1. FC Kaiserslautern (@Rote_Teufel) May 30, 2022