Shortly before the 3rd matchday in the 3. Liga between Viktoria Köln and Rot-Weiss Essen (Wednesday, 7 pm), the hosts lose a member of the coaching staff.

Change in the position of goalkeeper coach at FC Viktoria Köln: Alexander Bade joins Al-Ahli SFC in the Saudi Pro League, his post at Sportpark Höhenberg has already been taken over by Michael Kraft.

“I would like to expressly thank Viktoria Köln for a short but great time with many ups and hardly any downs. I have been fantastically welcomed here and was able to spend a very nice time with everyone involved,” explains Alexander Bade. “Now, a new challenge awaits me in Saudi Arabia, which I wasn’t looking for like this, but which I would like to take up. I will continue to follow the path of Viktoria from a distance and keep my fingers crossed for a successful season.”

With Michael Kraft, Bade will once again be succeeded by an ex-professional keeper and seasoned goalkeeper coach with experience from numerous top-class stations. Kraft was in the Bundesliga squad of 1. FC Köln from 1988 to 1990 and 1993 to 1998, worked as a goalkeeper coach for Werder Bremen, Eintracht Frankfurt and the Turkish top club Fenerbahce Istanbul, among others.

“Since our times together at 1. FC Köln, the contact with Olaf Janßen was always there and always very good. Now he contacted me, I was free, and there was really nothing to think about. Of course, I came here and took a look at everything – and what has been built here is absolutely professional,” says Kraft, looking forward to his new task. “Even as a player, Olaf was always very meticulous and tactically far ahead, so I know that I can work with him super, and I’ve also only heard good things about his team here.”

On Wednesday (23 August, 7pm, Forecasting-Liveticker) Kraft will then be in action for the first time as a member of the Viktoria coaching staff: Rot-Weiss Essen come to Sportpark Höhenberg on matchday 3.