Seven years after being relegated, Fortuna Köln has secured a return to the 3. Liga. The South Cologne club clinched promotion with a 2-1 home victory over Sportfreunde Siegen on the penultimate matchday. Holding a four-point cushion over second-place Rot-Weiß Oberhausen in the Regionalliga West, they can no longer be overtaken at the top of the table.
“We have followed an excellent path from the very first day. The team performed outstandingly, especially in the early weeks and months,” said coach Matthias Mink after the final whistle. “They have developed incredibly well. The internal chemistry and mutual understanding were fantastic. The experienced players consistently guided the younger ones, and everyone worked meticulously in training. I believe the promotion is well-deserved, particularly because of our strong home form. Considering how long we’ve been league leaders, it’s a great honor for this squad.”
