Köln put Lienen out to dry
Monday, January 28, 2002
Article summary
Ewald Lienen has been sacked by 1. FC Köln following a dismal run of form.
Article body
Ewald Lienen, who led 1. FC Köln into the 1. Bundesliga less than two years ago, has been sacked by the German club following a run that has put their top-flight status in jeopardy.
Assistant takes over
Saturday's 3-0 defeat by TSV 1860 München was the final straw for club president Albert Caspers, who announced on Monday that Lienen had been dismissed and Christoph John, his assistant, placed in temporary charge. "It has been a very difficult decision," said Capers. "But we had to do something as we are now in a very difficult situation which according to me can only be resolved with the arrival of a new coach."
Lack of goals
John took Monday's training session ahead of Köln's German Cup quarter-final meeting with Hertha BSC Berlin on Wednesday. The Müngersdorfer stadium outfit have not won any of their last five league games and have failed to score in over 500 minutes of Bundesliga action. They have 14 points from 19 matches and are just two points and two places clear of FC St. Pauli, the bottom club.
Tenth last season
The 48-year-old Lienen became one of the most respected coaches in Germany when he steered the club into the Bundesliga in 2000, the culmination of an excellent first season in charge at the club. Köln finished tenth in their first campaign back among the elite, an excellent performance, but have struggled this term.
Wonderful playing career
Lienen enjoyed a wonderful playing career, recording over 330 Bundesliga appearances during his time at VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, DSC Arminia Bielefeld and MSV Duisburg. His coaching break came in 1995 when he moved to CD Tenerife and he had a subsequent spell with FC Hansa Rostock before taking over at Köln.
Fourth casualty
He becomes the fourth coaching casualty of the German first division season. Frank Pagelsdorf paid the price for Hamburger SV's disappointing early-season form, which yielded just one win from six matches, in September, Werner Lorant - who has subsequently taken over at Fenerbahçe SK - was fired by 1860 in October, and Hansa parted company with Friedhelm Funkel in December.
