The 1. FC Köln has extended the contract of another key player. With Mark Uth, a favourite of the public remains.

Mark Uth’s contract with Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln would have expired at the end of the 2022/23 season. Now the club has announced that, alongside Florian Kainz, Uth has also extended his contract until 30 June 2025.

And this despite the major problems the playmaker has had in the current season. The cup match in Regensburg was followed by a month-long break, two operations and now rehab after his pubic bone problems.

The veteran is now expected to be back with the team in March. Uth’s absence has weighed heavily so far, and Cologne miss the player who was chased around the stadium by FC Schalke supporters before his move from FC Schalke to FC in April 2021 after S04’s relegation was certain.

FC general manager Christian Keller said: “Mark is a player who can make the difference with his qualities in the offensive. On the way to Europe, Mark was a top performer and a leading player. We are firmly convinced that he will bring exactly that back to us after his injury. That’s why we’re very happy if he returns to the pitch soon and stays with us beyond the summer. “

The player himself is thrilled to be able to continue playing in his home country: “When you are born in Cologne as a footballer, there is only one goal: to play for 1. FC Köln. And I’m glad that I’ve arrived here again after my stops in between. FC is home for me and I feel more than comfortable here. That’s why I’m very happy to continue playing for the club I love and have supported for 31 years now.”

Uth made 48 Bundesliga appearances for FC, scoring ten goals and providing 14 assists. In total, the 31-year-old has 174 Bundesliga appearances to date (44 goals/29 assists).