Copyright: Herbert Bucco
Steffen Baumgart on March 19, 2022 in training at 1. FC Köln. On April 12, the FC trainer will be visiting the Kölner Haie again.
The Kölner Haie could use any support against the Eisbären Berlin in the DEL playoffs on Tuesday. FC coach Steffen Baumgart can only keep his fingers crossed with a heavy heart.
Cologne is eagerly awaiting the Haie’s first home playoff game in three years – the coach of 1. FC Köln can’t be absent either. Steffen Baumgart (50) is known to be with the KEC and will also be there on Tuesday (April 12, 2022, 7:30 p.m.) in the game against Eisbären Berlin in the Lanxess Arena. However: This time the FC coach keeps his fingers crossed for the opponent.
The self-confessed ice hockey fan has settled in Cologne in record time, but it is also well known that Baumgart’s heart is still in Berlin. No wonder that the passion for the polar bears is even more deeply rooted than the sympathy for the Cologne Sharks, which he visited, for example, in the derby against the Düsseldorf EG in mid-October.
Steffen Baumgart keeps his fingers crossed for Eisbären Berlin
“I’m a sports fan and like other sports too. The interesting thing is that I used to keep my fingers crossed for the other team. Now I’m curious how I do it. If you live in Berlin for a long time and go to ice hockey there, you’re with the polar bears. I think I’m still a bit for the polar bears,” admitted Baumgart on Tuesday between FC training and the DFL quarter-finals.
Copyright: Herbert Bucco
Steffen Baumgart on October 19 with FC video analyst Hannes Dold and goalkeeping coach Uwe Gospodarek at the Kölner Haie game against Düsseldorf in the Lanxess Arena.
In the capital, where Baumgart was active as a player and coach, the native of Rostock repeatedly makes trips to DEL games in the former O2 World Berlin (today Mercedes-Benz Arena), where the former series champion last season had celebrated the end of his eight-year title dry spell.
Steffen Baumgart already has his semi-final favorites in the DEL
On Sunday, Baumgart had already congratulated the sharks in a video message on Instagram on reaching the quarter-finals and admitted that two hearts were beating in his chest. “I’m looking forward to Tuesday. And of course, as always, I want to be there,” he announced, before closing diplomatically: “I’m definitely in the semifinals after these games, no matter who advances. May the best get ahead.”
After the 1:2 from the first duel, the Kölner Haie are under pressure and want to equalize against the favorite Berliners with the home factor and full ranks in the arena. With a lot of passion and struggle, the KEC not only wants to seize the best-of-five series, but also win Steffen Baumgart, guest of honor, on its side.
