Lautern set to turn to Funkel in relegation fight, Kicker reports
Shortly after the dismissal of trainer Dimitrios Grammozis was confirmed by 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Germany's preeminent footballing publication published a report stating that Lautern are set to bring legendary German footballing "Feuerwehrmann" Friedhelm Funkel back to the touchline.
Famous German footballing trainer Friedhelm Funkel is set to be installed as the successor to recently sacked 1. FC Kaiserslautern trainer Dimitrios Grammozis, according to Germany's Kicker Magazine. The 70-year-old Funkel - last active in helping Köln avoid relegation from the top flight at the end of the 2020/21 campaign - will now be tasked with ensuring that the Pfälzer Red Devils can avoid sliding into the third German footballing division.
Funkel will be the second former Lautern player, after Grammozis, that the Palatinate club have turned to this season to coach the team. The Neuss-native made 63 appearances for the FCK during his playing career between 190 and 1983. Funkel's coaching career has seen him work the touchline at Uerdingen, Duisburg, Rostock, Köln, Hertha, Eintracht, Düsseldorf, 1860 München, Aachen, and Bochum.
Whilst working at Köln three years ago, Funkel revealed that his advanced years left him unable to expend anywhere near as much energy on the team as he might have liked. One thus assumes that this appointment counts as a classic "Feuerwehrmann" ("fire man") case. Funkel's over the next three-and-a-half months shall be to keep Lautern in the 2. Bundesliga.