Solbakken to leave FCK for Köln

Former Norway midfielder Ståle Solbakken has been named as the new coach of German club 1. FC Köln after this season guiding FC København to a fifth Danish title under his leadership.

The 43-year-old, who will formally take charge of the Bundesliga outfit on 1 July, will be officially presented as Köln's new trainer at a press conference on Tuesday. Capped 58 times, Solbakken ended his playing career at FCK in 2001 due to a heart condition, following stints with the likes of Lillestrøm SK, Wimbledon FC and Aalborg BK.

After a spell back in Norway, he returned to coach the Copenhagen club five years ago, winning national titles in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. This season's Danish crown was secured with a record seven games to spare, with Solbakken also having led the Lions into the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League for the first time.

Köln finished tenth in the Bundesliga following a 2-1 final-day victory against FC Schalke 04 under the leadership of caretaker coach Volker Fink.