1. FC Köln

Overview

The 1st FC Köln (full name: 1st Football Club Cologne 01/07 e.V., often only "FC" or "Effzeh") is a sports club in Cologne, Germany. With 132,439 members as of September 2023, it is the largest club in the city and ranks sixth among sports clubs in Germany, as well as eleventh worldwide.

History

The football club was founded on 13 February 1948 through the merger of two football clubs: Kölner BC 01 and SpVgg Sülz 07. This unification aimed to create a single strong and financially secure football team for the city.

### Early Successes

In the early years, FC Köln achieved significant success. The club became three-time German Champion, four-time DFB Cup winner, and reached the final of the UEFA Cup in 1986. Additionally, they were eight times European Cup semi-finalists.

### Bundesliga History

FC Köln was a founding member of the Bundesliga and remained in the highest German league for 35 years without interruption until 1998. After a brief stint in the Second Bundesliga, the club returned to the top division in the 2009-10 season, following four consecutive promotions from the lower leagues.

### Eternal Tables

FC Köln holds ninth place in the Eternal Table of the Bundesliga and third place in the Eternal Table of the Oberliga West, the highest league for West German clubs before the introduction of the Bundesliga.

Modern Era

Since March 2002, FC Köln has been a command company with shares. The club's membership has continued to grow, with over 132,000 members as of September 2023.

### Notable Achievements

* Three-time German Champion
* Four-time DFB Cup winner
* UEFA Cup finalists in 1986
* Eight European Cup semi-finalists