In spite of suffering relegation and losing out in the cup final, the team shows resilience. - Kaiserslautern bids farewell to Savior Funkel.
At the end of the season, Friedhelm Funkel (70), the coach of 1. FC Kaiserslautern, will be leaving the club. Funkel saved this traditional team from being relegated to the third division and led them to the final of the DFB Cup against Leverkusen.
The coach shared his thoughts on his departure, saying, "I've given my all, and I've always held FCK close to my heart. I had a great experience as a player here, and it was my dream to return to the Betze as a coach. The club, its fans - everything here has a special charisma and effect that I'm thankful to be a part of again."
Both parties agreed not to renew Funkel's contract. Thomas Hengen, the managing director of FCK, spoke highly of his coach, stating, "He took over in a difficult time and performed his duties admirably. He brought a sense of calm to the club, and we were able to achieve our goals thanks to his efforts. Friedhelm helped us stay in the league and reach the cup final."
Funkel, who will coach his final home game with FCK against Braunschweig on Sunday and the cup final against Bayer Leverkusen in Berlin on May 25, intends to take a break from soccer for the time being. He shared, "These last few weeks have been intense and emotional for me. After this season, I plan to relax with my family and friends and recharge my batteries."
Despite his plans, Funkel doesn't dismiss the prospect of taking up another rescue mission in the near future.
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Source: symclub.org
