Harambee Stars prospect Linton Maina will be working under a new coach as FC Köln gears up for their return to the Bundesliga.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsThe club is finalising the appointment of Lukas Kwasniok as head coach, marking a crucial move in their efforts to build a competitive top-flight side.Kwasniok replaces veteran coach Friedhelm Funkel, whose short-term contract was not extended despite guiding Köln to a 2. Bundesliga title.The club had long identified Kwasniok as their preferred candidate and successfully concluded negotiations after several weeks, according to Sky Sports in Germany.##NAJAVA_MECA_8963099##Köln has reportedly agreed to pay Paderborn a compensation fee of €1 million to €1.2 million to secure Kwasniok’s release, with the 43-year-old coach set to sign a two-year contract running until 2027.Kwasniok follows in the footsteps of fellow Paderborn alumnus Steffen Baumgart, continuing a trend of promising managerial transitions between the clubs.For Maina, who remains eligible for Harambee Stars, the coaching change brings a fresh opportunity to shine.The 24-year-old winger, celebrated for his pace and creativity, will now aim to catch the eye of a coach renowned for nurturing young talent and encouraging an attacking style of play.Hannover 96 were reportedly keen on hiring the Polish coach as well.AFC Leopards chairman promises to host Mashemeji Derby at Bukhungu StadiumMaina, who committed his future to the club by signing a new deal in May, reaffirmed his dedication after promotion was secured.“The whole city simply deserves this,” he told a roaring crowd at the Rhein Energie Stadion. “Five or six weeks ago, I signed with a Bundesliga club—one that can finally call itself a Bundesliga club again.”Köln’s ambitions do not stop at coaching changes. The club has made significant moves in the transfer market, including a €10 million double signing of Ragnar Ache and Isak Johannesson—clear indicators of their intent to make a mark in the Bundesliga.Inside McCarthy’s main focus areas in Harambee Stars friendlies against Chad
