Latour to lead Köln survival fight
Tuesday, January 3, 2006
Article summary
Swiss coach Hanspeter Latour has left Grasshopper-Club in his homeland to replace Uwe Rapolder in charge of struggling German club 1. FC Köln.
Article body
Swiss coach Hanspeter Latour has left Grasshopper-Club to take the helm at Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln.
Rapolder departure
The 58-year-old will replace compatriot Uwe Rapolder as coach of the German strugglers, and has almost four weeks to prepare the side for what is likely to be a tense relegation battle. Rapolder departed Köln two weeks ago following a defeat by DSC Arminia Bielefeld, a result that left the club level on 12 points with MSV Duisburg and 1. FC Kaiserstautern at the foot of the table.
Köln unrest
Köln also lost general manager Andreas Rettig in the aftermath of the Arminia loss, and Latour will hope to put the unrest behind them, starting with the match against 1. FSV Mainz 05 on 28 January. Latour, a former goalkeeper who spent only a year in charge at Grasshoppers, has agreed a contract that will keep him at his new club until June 2007 at least.
'Passion and enthusiasm'
Köln's new general manager, Michael Meier was effusive in his praise for Latour and played down criticism of his inexperience at the top level. "He's a positive person full of passion and enthusiasm," he said. "I'm convinced this is the right decision. He might not have a big name yet, but I'm convinced he will become one in Cologne."
