Friedhelm Funkel, a coaching legend in German soccer, took a close look at the state of the first three leagues in his forecast and also spoke about his former clubs.

Bayer Uerdingen, MSV Duisburg, Hansa Rostock, 1. FC Köln, Eintracht Frankfurt, Hertha BSC, VfL Bochum, Alemannia Aachen, TSV 1860 Munich, Fortuna Düsseldorf, 1. FC Köln, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, and 1. FC Köln again: During his coaching career, Friedhelm Funkel has worked for many traditional clubs.

At 72, the soccer coach has not yet ended his career—at least not officially. Funkel, who lives in Krefeld, follows the action from the top division down to the Oberliga with great interest.

Forecasting is using the international break to talk with the coaching icon about the state of the leagues and some of his former clubs.

Friedhelm Funkel on …

… Lukas Kwasniok’s departure from 1. FC Köln: “Maybe he went a bit overboard. I always say: Less is sometimes more. But he’s known for letting loose with a zinger and snapping at one or the other from time to time. A word or two might have slipped out too quickly. But you really can’t blame Kwasniok that much. The team has played really good games most of the time—80 to 85 percent of the time. They simply haven’t won enough games. Sure: Two wins out of the last 18 games is too few.”

Schalke is stable, but they have a lot of draws on their record. They’re not out of the woods yet. But they also have the Arena as a trump card. If they win their games at Schalke, they’ll get promoted. Otherwise, a team that manages to win three games in a row will make it.

Friedhelm Funkel

… on his contact with 1. FC Köln: “There was no contact with 1. FC Köln. The decision that was made is the right one. Whether I would have done it if I’d been asked, I don’t know. That’s a hypothetical question now, after all.”

… the relegation battle: “The matches the FC still has ahead of them make me totally optimistic that they’ll definitely stay up. I’ve heard that René Wagner has a good relationship with the team. But even there, the results have to come now. It’s still very tense at the bottom. Heidenheim is way behind and will be relegated. Wolfsburg has a tough remaining schedule. There could be a decisive match on Matchday 34 at FC St. Pauli to determine relegation or the relegation playoff spot.”

… the promotion battle in the 2. Bundesliga: “I don’t think Hertha will catch up again. First through fifth place are very close together. Schalke is solid, but they have a lot of draws on their record. They’re not out of the woods yet. But they also have the Arena as a trump card. If they win their games at Schalke, they’ll be promoted. Otherwise, a team that manages to win three games in a row will make it. The top teams have lacked consistency so far, which is why no one has been able to pull away.”

… on the departure of Elversberg’s sporting director Ole Book: “The move to Dortmund doesn’t surprise me, because he’s been doing an outstanding job for nearly a decade. But of course: Dortmund is a whole different world now. It’s a huge step for him. But as I’ve read, he’s been a BVB fan since childhood. He has to seize this opportunity. This is a very exciting story that I’ll be following with great interest. His departure has no impact on the team. They’re playing sensationally well under coach Vincent Wagner. But next year, his departure will have an impact, because then someone else will have to handle Elversberg’s transfers. Book’s shoes are big to fill.”

I haven’t been to the stadium in ten or 15 years. None of it was serious—whether under Lakis or Ponomarev: that wasn’t my thing. That’s why I didn’t go to the stadium. Now there are new people in charge, and somehow I’ve had a better feeling about the Uerdingen leadership for the first time in over 20 years.

Friedhelm Funkel

… the situation in Bochum and Düsseldorf: “Both teams need to be careful. They still need a few points. But I’m optimistic for both VfL and Fortuna.”

… the relegation battle in the 2. Bundesliga: “It’s brutally tight. Münster, at the bottom of the table, still has every chance. I don’t want to venture any predictions here because everything is so close. From 10th to 18th place, there are just seven points separating them with seven matchdays remaining. Here, too, the teams simply lack consistency.”

… the promotion battle in the 3rd Division: “Of course, I’m following the situation here as well. VfL Osnabrück will likely be promoted. Behind them, it’s exciting. Hansa Rostock is in good form, as are the two western clubs, Rot-Weiss Essen and MSV Duisburg. I’m looking forward to the derby. In the first leg, I was still a pundit on ‘MagentaSport.’ That was fun. It would also give me great pleasure if Duisburg were to be promoted as runners-up and Essen via the relegation play-offs.”

… KFC Uerdingen: “I haven’t been to the stadium in ten or 15 years. None of it was serious—whether under Lakis or Ponomarev: that wasn’t my thing. That’s why I didn’t go to the stadium. Now there are new people in charge, and somehow I’ve had a better feeling about Uerdingen’s leadership for the first time in over 20 years. After 40 years, they recently organized an event for the ‘Match of the Century’: Uerdingen vs. Dresden. We watched the second half again in a nice setting. A great event! I hope that things will now move forward calmly, but solidly and seriously, in small steps, so that KFC Uerdingen can once again achieve lasting stability and success.”