Victory on the final matchday gave Koln a second shot at preserving their status as a Bundesliga team as they finished a disappointing campaign in 16th place before overcoming a first leg defeat to beat Holstein Kiel 5-2 on aggregate and extend their stay in the top flight.
There were early signs that it was going to be a difficult campaign for Koln who had to wait until November to register their first win of the season. A return to form on either side of the winter break saw Koln climb out of the relegation zone but a dismal run that saw them pick up just two points from nine games between February and April saw them slip into the bottom two, leading Koln to sack Markus Gisdol and appoint Friedhelm Funkel as the interim coach.
That proved to be the right decision as Funkel steadied the ship and led Koln to three wins from their final five games, including a late winner on the last matchday that helped Koln climb above Werder Bremen and finish in the relegation playoffs spot.
There were problems all over the pitch for Koln who ended the season with the second worst defense while managing to score just 34 goals, a record superior to only Arminia Bielefeld and the relegation Schalke.
There were promising performances up the field with Ondrej Duda ending the season as the top scorer and leading the assists chart while Rexhbecaj and Skhiri also chipped in with crucial goals from the midfield.
Koln suffered a shock defeat in the first leg of the relegation playoff but an excellent display in the return leg helped seal a 5-2 aggregate win that helped secure their Bundesliga status. Regardless of the late success, the club needs a major rebuilding job if they are to ensure a far more comfortable campaign next season.
