Franz-Josef Wernze, long-time patron of third-division soccer club FC Viktoria Köln, has passed away at the age of 74 after a long illness.

“Deeply shocked and stunned, we learned early Friday morning of the death of our long-time patron Franz-Josef Wernze, who has left us after a serious illness at the age of 74,” said the FC Viktoria Köln statement on Friday. “Franz-Josef Wernze and his work will forever be part of the history of FC Viktoria Köln 1904.”

Wernze was not only club boss, but with his tax consulting company ETL long-time and generous supporter. In 2010, he had founded Viktoria Köln as the successor club to the insolvent SCB Viktoria Köln and actively supported it on its way to professional soccer. After several failed attempts, the club was finally promoted to the 3rd league in 2019, where FC Viktoria Köln has been a permanent guest ever since. The team currently occupies eighth place under the leadership of coach Olaf Janßen.

This season also saw another highlight with the DFB Cup first round match against FC Bayern (0:5). 50,000 spectators came to the sold-out Rhein-Energie-Stadion. Also present was Wernze, who had actually already withdrawn due to his health problems.

The remaining statement of FC Viktoria Köln in the wording:

“Franz-Josef Wernze and his work will forever be part of the history of FC Viktoria Köln 1904. Franz-Josef Wernze was a doer, but above all he was an outstanding person, who always had the view beyond the pure professional soccer for the big picture. It is only thanks to him that we are where we are as a club. We want to maintain this work in his spirit and continue to work on it.

But before we can do this again with full power, we mourn.

Rest in peace, Franz-Josef Wernze “