2011–12 1. FC Köln season

Prior to the last match of last season, 1. FC Köln hired Ståle Solbakken as their new head coach.[1][2] He previously coached Copenhagen.[1] Also on the last matchday of last season, Petit tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a match against Schalke 04 and has yet to debut this season.[2][3]

Arsenal defeated 1. FC Köln 2–1.[4] On 25 July, Solbakken named Pedro Geromel captain.[5] Lukas Podolski was Geromel's predecessor.[5]

On 31 July, 1. FC Köln opened up their season with a 3–0 DFB-Pokal win against Wiedenbrück 2000.[6]

1. FC Köln were eliminated from the DFB-Pokal in the 2nd Round.[7]

On 13 November, Wolfgang Overath along with deputies Friedrich Neukirch and Jürgen Glowacz resigned from the board of directors.[8][9] Overath stated how there was a "strain in recent months" for all of them and "frustration, inner conflict, and wear and tear".[8] Overath also stated how the board was "not always a team" and how he "was reviled and insulted in a way, as I have never experienced before.".[8][9]

On 19 November, the match against Mainz 05 was canceled after the referee for the match, Babak Rafati, attempted suicide.[10][11] The match was eventually rescheduled for 13 December.[12]

1. FC Köln stated that they would allow Sebastian Freis and Kevin Pezzoni to leave on free transfers.[13]

For the winter break, 1. FC Köln returned to practice on 2 January 2012 at 11:00 CET (UTC+01) and had a training camp in Portimão, Portugal, from 5 to 12 January.[14]

On 4 March 2012, a group 1. FC Köln supporters attacked a bus with Borussia Mönchengladbach supporters in it.[15]

On 10 March 2012, 1. FC Köln announced, that in mutual agreement, Volker Finke will be released from his position as Sporting Director.[16]

On 12 April 2012, 1. FC Köln dismissed Ståle Solbakken as head coach of the club and replaced him with Frank Schaefer.[17][18] The club was in 16th place at the time of the firing.[17] The club originally announced that he was "on leave".[18] However, Solbakken confirmed that he was fired.[18]

1. FC Köln finished in 17th place and were relegated on the final day of the season.[19] Hertha BSC would have been automatically been relegated if they had lost or drew against 1899 Hoffenheim.[19]

Lukas Podolski's future at 1. FC Köln has been speculated much during the first half of the season by the media. Turkish media announced how Podolski and Galatasaray S.K. had already agreed.[20] These rumours were proved false when Podolski was still at 1. FC Köln when the transfer deadline passed. In August, Sports Director Volker Finke stated how the club absolutely must keep Podolski at all cost.[20]

Arsenal, Lokomotiv Moscow, Galatasaray S.K., Lazio and Schalke 04 are all known to be interested in Podolski and have been tracking him during the first half of season.[21][22] However, it would be difficult for Schalke 04 to sign Podolski. Podolski stated that "a change in the Bundesliga is for me very difficult to imagine".[23] Arsène Wenger has denied that he wants to purchase Podolski during the winter transfer period.[24] Die Welt has reported that Wenger has no interest in Podolski at all.[25]

Finke stated on 11 December that, "Podolski would not be part of the squad for 2012–13, if he did not sign an extension," while Podolski responded by stating, "he would be willing to play for the amateurs or sit in the stands while his current deal expired".[21] 1. FC Köln is about €25 million in debt and Finke doesn't believe that 1. FC Köln can afford a free transfer.[21][26] Deutsche Welle stated that the "more logical decision" would be to sell Podolski during the winter transfer period because he is not cup-tied to any club in UEFA's European competitions and how their position to sell would be weaken if they wait for next summer.[21]

Jürgen Klopp came out and criticized Podolski.[27] Klopp stated how Podolski only plays well every other week and is too expensive because of this.[27] Podolski stated how he turned down Klopp twice and how Borussia Dortmund could not afford him because it does have any more UEFA Champions League revenue for the season.[27]

Arsenal F.C. defender Per Mertesacker stated how Podolski, along with former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, would be "perfect acquisitions".[28] On 7 March, Mertesacker stated that Podolski has asked about "a potential move to the Emirates".[29][30] Oliver Bierhoff stated that Podolski would be making a "great move" if he left 1. FC Köln for Arsenal F.C.[31]

There were reports that claimed 1. FC Köln sold Podolski to Arsenal F.C. for €13 million with Bayern Munich getting 10% of the amount over €10 million.[32] However, Podolski himself denied that any deal has been finalized with Arsenal F.C.[33] Reports doubted that the move will even happen after Podolski claimed that he could be tempted by Lazio.[34]

Podolski finally decided to sign for Arsenal on 30 April.[35][36]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

As of 30 April 2012

Squad Season 2011-12
Players						Bundesliga			DFB-Pokal			Totals
No.	Player	Nat.	Birthday	at FCK since	Previous club	MP	G	A	MP	G	A	MP	G	A
Goalkeepers
1	Michael Rensing		14 May 1985	2011	Bayern Munich	31	0	0	1	0	0	32	0	0
22	Miro Varvodić		15 May 1989	2008	Hajduk Split	2	0	0	1	0	0	3	0	0
24	Daniel Schwabke		19 July 1989	2007	1. FC Magdeburg	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
26	Timo Horn		12 May 1993	2002	SC Rondorf	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Defenders
2	Mišo Brečko		1 May 1984	2008	Hamburger SV	26	0	2	2	0	0	28	0	2
3	Ammar Jemal		20 April 1987	2011	Young Boys	15	2	0	1	0	0	16	1	0
4	Christian Eichner		24 November 1982	2011	1899 Hoffenheim	28	0	1	2	0	0	30	0	1
12	Andrezinho		9 October 1981	2010	Vitória de Guimarães	7	0	0	1	0	0	8	0	0
17	Henrique Sereno		18 May 1985	2011	Porto	25	0	0	1	0	0	26	0	0
18	Tomoaki Makino		11 May 1987	2011	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
21	Pedro Geromel (captain)		21 September 1985	2008	Vitória de Guimarães	27	0	0	1	0	1	28	0	1
23	Kevin McKenna		21 January 1980	2007	Energie Cottbus	24	1	0	0	0	0	24	1	0
33	Mitchell Weiser		21 April 1994	2005	TVE Veltenhof	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
35	Alexander Vaaßen		9 December 1991	1998	Viktoria Thorr	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Midfielders
5	Sascha Riether		23 March 1983	2011	VfL Wolfsburg	17	0	0	2	0	0	19	0	0
6	Kevin Pezzoni		22 March 1989	2008	Blackburn Rovers	11	1	0	2	0	0	13	1	0
8	Petit		25 September 1976	2008	Benfica	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
13	Martin Lanig		11 July 1984	2010	VfB Stuttgart	30	0	1	2	0	0	32	0	1
15	Sławomir Peszko		19 February 1985	2011	Lech Poznań	31	2	6	2	0	1	33	2	7
19	Mato Jajalo		24 May 1988	2010	Siena	30	3	3	2	2	0	32	5	3
20	Adil Chihi		21 February 1988	2004	Fortuna Düsseldorf	10	2	0	1	0	0	11	2	0
25	Adam Matuszczyk		14 February 1989	2003	VfB Dillingen	9	0	0	1	0	0	10	0	0
28	Odise Roshi		22 May 1991	2011	Flamurtari Vlorë	20	1	1	2	0	0	22	1	1
29	Christopher Buchtmann		25 April 1992	2010	Fulham F.C.	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Forwards
7	Sebastian Freis		23 April 1985	2009	Karlsruher SC	4	0	1	1	0	0	5	0	1
10	Lukas Podolski		4 June 1985	2009	Bayern Munich	16	14	5	2	0	1	18	14	6
11	Milivoje Novaković		18 May 1979	2006	Litex Lovech	7	2	3	1	2	0	8	4	3
14	Alexandru Ioniță		5 August 1989	2010	Rapid București	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
16	Mikael Ishak		31 March 1993	2012	Assyriska FF	11	0	0	0	0	0	11	0	0
27	Christian Clemens		4 August 1991	2001	SC Köln Weiler-Volkhoven	15	4	2	2	0	0	17	4	2
31	Mark Uth		24 August 1991	2009	Viktoria Köln	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
38	Thiemo-Jérôme Kialka		12 January 1989	2007	VfL 93 Hamburg	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
MP = Matches played — G = Goals scored — A = Assists
Sources:[6][7][37][38]