Funkel, 67, will conduct his first training session at the second-last club on Tuesday in succession of Markus Gisdol for the final six games of the campaign.

Gisdol had to go after 18 months after a 3-2 home defeat against fellow strugglers Mainz. He kept them in the top flight last season but they are in trouble again and without victory in eight games.

"I firmly believe that the goal of staying in the Bundesliga can be achieved," Funkel said at his presentation.

"The team's performance makes me optimistic that we can make that happen.

"Team spirit is my top priority. The most important thing is the team. I succeeded in getting that across at all of my clubs."

Funkel's first match in charge will be a regional derby at Bayer Leverkusen who also need full points Saturday in their bid for a place in Europe, followed by a date with second-ranked RB Leipzig.

"We want to get as many points as possible in all of the remaining six games. No matter who the opponent is," Funkel insisted.

Funkel coached Cologne before, between February 2002 and October 2003. He was relegated with them but achieved instant promotion back into the top flight.

The veteran last coached regional rivals Fortuna Dusseldorf where he had to go after almost four years in January 2020 and said he was retiring.

Australian Associated Press