Christoph Daum

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Daum played as a midfielder and began his senior career with Hamborn 07 and Eintracht Duisburg, before joining 1. FC Köln in 1975 and being part of the reserve team that won the 1980–81 German amateur football championship. After finishing his playing career, he earned his coaching licence and began working in 1981 as amateur coach with 1. FC Köln. He was promoted to assistant coach in 1985–86 and to head coach in 1986. During the 1990 FIFA World Cup, he was released by Köln's president. In November 1990 he transferred to VfB Stuttgart, winning the Bundesliga in 1992. In the 1992–93 European Cup, a mistake with foreign player limits led to a replay against Leeds United, which Leeds won, and Daum was released. He then coached Beşiktaş, winning the Turkish Cup in 1994 and the 1994–95 Süper Lig title. He returned to Germany to coach Bayer Leverkusen in 1996, leading them to three second-place finishes. In 2000, a cocaine scandal involving a hair sample ended his chance to become Germany national coach. He later returned to Beşiktaş, then coached Austria Wien (winning the league), Fenerbahçe (winning two league titles), 1. FC Köln (returning to Bundesliga in 2008), Fenerbahçe again, Eintracht Frankfurt, Club Brugge, Bursaspor, and the Romania national team. He died from lung cancer on 24 August 2024 at age 70.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere shifted when Daum arrived in late 2006. The team had been stuck in the second division, and he took over with a clear directive: return to the top flight. Through the 2007–08 season, he guided the squad through the promotion battle, succeeding where others had failed. By 2008, the Geißböcke were back in the Bundesliga. Daum then oversaw the 2008–09 campaign, focusing on securing their place in the league. Once the club was safe and stable, he stepped down, leaving for Fenerbahçe as his journey with Köln concluded after a successful, albeit brief, resurgence.

Reader's Guide

Daum's managerial career spanned multiple countries. Key achievements include winning the Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart (1991–92), the Süper Lig with Beşiktaş (1994–95) and Fenerbahçe (2003–04, 2004–05), and the Austrian Bundesliga with Austria Wien (2002–03). He also won the DFL-Supercup (1992), Turkish Cup (1993–94), Turkish Super Cup (1993–94, 2009), and Austrian Cup (2002–03). His career was marred by a cocaine scandal in 2000 that cost him the Germany national team job.

Did You Know?

• Daum won the German amateur football championship as a player with 1. FC Köln II in 1980–81.
• He led 1. FC Köln back to the Bundesliga after finishing third in the 2007–08 2. Bundesliga.
• Daum was the third foreign manager in history to coach the Romania national team.