This is post seven of a wider series. A series for FM24.
“He’s our Jonny Evans.”
In-game date: 1 July 2026
The summer of transformation
I thought I’d do something different for this post and focus on the complete transformation which took place in summer 2026 and current state of the club. This is ahead of Enzo Scutari’s fourth season in charge of Viktoria Köln, their second in the Bundesliga.
I haven’t kicked off the new pre-season’s matches yet, but been hard at work improving the club’s infrastructure, staff and pool of players.
Since finishing fourth last season and achieving UEFA Champions League qualification after three long years of being able to spend a total of zero pounds on inbound transfers, our position is set to change with on-pitch success finally bearing financial fruit.
Before I detail the squad overhaul, a couple of key structural changes took place. A host of new staff members arrived – a new set piece coach, three new first-team coaches, three scouts and two physios. Then Junior Coaching, Youth Facilities, Youth Recruitment and Training Facilities were all green-lit for significant investment too. Couple all of that with the new 15,000 capacity stadium we built last year and the club is quite literally a different place from when Scutari arrived in July 2023. Almost three years ago, to the day.
In terms of the squad overhaul, Enrique Lofolomo moved to RW Essen in the third division for £60k after 58 league appearances in three years. Truth be told, he is one of many players who rose with the club through the divisions, but didn’t have an adequate ability ceiling to grow with our ambitions. Joining the elite in the Champions League for the first time (!) meant that Enrique and players like him would have to go.
Josef Gottmeier dropped down to the II team and Suheyel Najar joined him there too. Gottmeier hasn’t quite broken through yet at 22 and may be loaned out. Najar, 30, had a stellar opening campaign in the third tier but hasn’t looked to be of appropriate quality to compete above level that since then. Najar will be sold.
Captain Moritz Fritz left at the end of his contract and retired along with Patrick Koronkiewicz, but both are in talks to return as coaches for the under 19s side. This would complete a lovely narrative for their respective career journeys. Edin Džeko also retired as expected, while Bryan Henning, Lars Dietz and Dudu all left to pursue new on-field challenges elsewhere.
Marcos Rojo and Luis Advíncula both announce their retirements, but not until the end of the 26-27 season. So we have them for the forthcoming season before they hang up their boots.
We signed 13 players for a combined value of £14.25million. In our first team, our highest earner is on £16,000 a week. The average first team salary is now £9,700 a week. This leaves a lot of funds in the bank as a side now competing in the UEFA Champions League, but I felt it was critical to raise the floor of the general level of player at the club throughout, rather than raise the ceiling with a handful of expensive stars.
The 2026-2027 squad
Goalkeepers
Lennart Grill, 27, was number one last season with very tame competition from his previous backup, the now departed Dudu. 42 goals conceded in 33 appearances but his 7.71 Expected Goals Prevented ranked him third in the Bundesliga. 6 clean sheets from 33 league games.
Strengths – Aerial Reach, Jumping Reach, fairly consistent, dealing with crosses and high balls.
Weaknesses – Slow off of his line, poor distribution, average Handling and Communication.
Florian Kastenmeier, 29, is a new signing from Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2.Bundesliga, costing £2.2million, Scutari’s third most expensive summer acquisition. Our probable first-choice keeper for the forthcoming season, at least initially. 79% save percentage last season.
Strengths – Reflexes, Aggression, Composure, Jumping Reach, distribution from the back.
Weaknesses – Highly eccentric and tends to rush out. Playing a natural Sweeper Keeper is not always sensible.
Matheus Cunha, 25, is a new free signing from Flamengo in his native Brazil. Being number one for the top club in Brazil for the past three seasons is no mean feat, and Cunha won’t accept being benched for Kastenmeier, so competition is high for the starting spot between the sticks. Enjoys big matches and great at coming for crosses. A completely different style of keeper to Kastenmeier, despite both being six foot four inches tall.
Strengths – Anticipation, Concentration, dealing with crosses.
Weaknesses – Average attribute spread across all other key areas, low Strength.
Centre backs
Marcus Mathisen, 30, is a new free signing from FC Magdeburg in 2.Bundesliga, where he was captain. Mathisen will carry that on and take the captain’s armband for Viktoria Köln this year. Despite Magdeburg’s relegation to the third tier, Mathisen is a solid defender. Won possession 503 times last season in 35 league appearances, the fourth highest in the division.
Strengths – Tackling, Aggression, Bravery, Leadership, strong attribute spread.
Weaknesses – Tries Long Range Passes trait but doesn’t have the best passing range, Tries to Play Way Out of Trouble trait, but isn’t a gifted dribbler.
Jan Schöppner, 27, is a new signing from Heidenheim for £2.3million. Naturally a defensive midfielder, Scutari has made it clear that he will probably be deployed at centre back for The Viktorians. A tireless worker who featured mostly from the bench last season for a side who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Bundesliga.
Strengths – Consistency, Jumping Reach, Heading, Stamina, Teamwork, Concentration, Natural Fitness.
Weaknesses – Not the quickest, average Tackling, Passing, Marking.
Lisandro Magallán, 32, had a solid first season at VK last season, starting in 32 games. A consistent performer whose flaws are arguably his penchant for yellow cards (five last season), lack of technical effectiveness and that he is heading towards the twilight of his career. An old fashioned central defender.
Strengths – Consistency, Aggression, Teamwork, Work Rate, Balance, Jumping Reach.
Weaknesses – Age, First Touch, Dribbling.
Marcos Rojo, 36, signed for free midway through last season. Rojo is on the decline but his ability to fill in at either centre back or left back last season was critical when seeing out some tight matches. Retiring at the end of this coming campaign so Rojo is around mainly as inspiration for the younger players in the dressing room. He’s our Jonny Evans, but hopefully doesn’t need to play as often as Manchester United rely on his old teammate in real life.
Strengths – Experience, Tackling, Aggression, Anticipation, Bravery, Leadership.
Weaknesses – No Pace or Agility, very low Strength, low Composure and no Dribbling ability, rapidly declining.
Christoph Greger, 29, is one of five players who are still at the club since before Scutari’s arrival, and have stayed with the team up through the divisions. Formerly vice captain, Greger partnered Magallán for all of last season, but will now be benched for Mathisen, I imagine. Entering his sixth season for the club, appearing in 153 league games along the way. A solid pro, but not quite good enough to match the level the club has risen to.
Strengths – Consistency, Jumping Reach, Aggression, Enjoys Big Matches.
Weaknesses – Injury-prone, low Natural Fitness, no Pace, low Composure and Positioning.
Full-backs
Nicklas May, 24, has been with the club since 2019. This is his eighth season with the club, and he’s still only 24. A mainstay at left back in all three of Scutari’s seasons in charge. Only now is his starting spot under threat. Very rarely injured so exceptionally dependable.
Strengths – Marking, Vision, Acceleration, strong spread across most attributes.
Weaknesses – Good at lots of things but not exceptional at any, Dribbling, First Touch, Heading.
Michal Karbownik, 25, is a new free signing from Hertha Berlin. A Poland international and regular starter for Hertha for the last three years. Brighton paid £3.5million for him back in 2020 but the move didn’t work out for him. A livewire who may very well be first-choice right-back this season.
Strengths – Acceleration, Agility, Pace, Teamwork.
Weaknesses – Tackling, Concentration, Jumping Reach, Strength.
Sidny Lopes Cabral, 23, is another original player for Viktoria Köln having signed for the club in 2023 which was one of the last acts of the previous manager prior to Enzo Scutari’s arrival. 93 league appearances so far and yet is a frustrating figure for fans, as a “high ceiling, low floor” player. When he’s good, he’s unplayable. When he’s off the boil, he’s a liability.
Strengths – Crossing, Tackling, Anticipation, Stamina.
Weaknesses – Dribbling, Composure, Concentration, Decisions, Vision, Jumping Reach, Strength.
Luis Advíncula, 36, was a free signing midway through last season. I could copy and paste the text describing Marcos Rojo, and not just because they both arrived in Köln from Argentinian giants Boca Juniors and are 36 years of age. A positive influence on the younger players as he has been capped by Peru 124 times and has played in over 470 matches at club level in his career. Can deputise on the right side of midfield too, if needed.
Strengths – Experience, Aggression, Bravery, Work Rate, Natural Fitness.
Weaknesses – Dribbling, Heading, Marking, Vision, Positioning, Decisions, Pace, rapidly declining.
Max Wittek, 30, is a new free signing from Bochum. Similar in style to Dani Carvajal as he is small in stature but aggressive and hard-working. Has the bonus abilities of being a great corner taker, free kick taker and has a great long throw. It will be an interesting battle between Wittek and Nicklas May to see who will make that left back spot their own this year.
Strengths – Corners, Free Kick Taking, Long Throws, Aggression, Teamwork, Work Rate, quite quick.
Weaknesses – Dribbling, Jumping Reach, Concentration.
Central midfielders
Florian Engelhardt, 23, has been chief playmaker for Viktoria Köln since he was 20 years old and has 99 league appearances under his belt already. He is a great fit for that playmaking pivot role Scutari likes to deploy, but with the arrival of less lightweight midfield rivals, Florian will find his starting spot under threat for the first time.
Strengths – Enjoys big matches, high potential ceiling, well-rounded attribute spread in most areas.
Weaknesses – Dribbling, Balance, Jumping Reach.
Robin Heußer, 28, is a new £1.5million signing from Karlsruhe. An excellent free kick and corner-taker, he is also a hard worker with a high general fitness level and outstanding stamina. He had the third highest Expected Assists in 2.Bundesliga last season and the highest Pressures Attempted by a large margin of any player in the division. Heußer is expected to start, given his work rate and ability from set pieces. A pressing machine with a bit of creativity in his boots. Short at five foot seven.
Strengths – Corners, Free Kick Taking, Work Rate, Natural Fitness, Stamina.
Weaknesses – Finishing, Jumping Reach, Heading.
Rodrigo Fernández, 30, was a free signing midway through last season and slotted straight into central midfield. A typically aggressive hard working Uruguayan midfield battler also capable of crashing the box. Slight but sleight.
Strengths – Aggression, Bravery, Work Rate, good attribute spread elsewhere.
Weaknesses – Jumping Reach, Dribbling.
Adamu Alhassan, 25, has been an almost ever-present for Scutari for the past two seasons since his free move from Macedonian football. Another short midfielder who isn’t the most technical, but is quick, aggressive and hard-working.
Strengths – Aggression, Bravery, Concentration, Work Rate, Acceleration, Agility, Pace.
Weaknesses – Finishing, Passing, Decisions, Jumping Reach.
Daniel Dos Santos, 23, is a new £2.5million signing from Lugano. One of two signings from the same club this summer. Arguably the biggest coup of the lot, Dos Santos will be the key creative midfielder in Enzo Scutari’s system this coming year. A versatile attacking midfielder, he can cover on both flanks as well as be deployed as either the central midfielder who sits or goes. Not a battler, but an elegant playmaker. At 23, he could be a huge source of future value.
Strengths – First Touch, Vision, Agility, quite quick, decent attribute spread elsewhere.
Weaknesses – Jumping Reach, Strength, Bravery, Tackling.
Wide midfielders
Yanis Cimignani, 24, is a new £1.5million signing from Lugano, arriving alongside midfield colleague Daniel Dos Santos from Switzerland. He is exciting but of all the new arrivals is the biggest risk, as he least fits the mould of a typical Scutari player. A joy with the ball at his feet , but ‘dreads’ playing in big matches and has low Composure and Concentration. Every team needs a maverick though, and Cimignani may be ours, despite his low Flair.
Strengths – Dribbling, First Touch, Decisions, Off the Ball, Agility.
Weaknesses – Composure, Concentration, Flair, Jumping Reach.
Tomás Andrade, 29, is entering his third season as a Viktoria Köln player. The highest key passer (provider of passes to players who then shoot) and assister in the squad, two years in a row. A creative force who is quick and unpredictable but with some glaring gaps in his skillset. Much like his colleague Christoph Greger, Andrade is a solid professional who can add significant value, but the club may have outgrown his footballing potential.
Strengths – Dribbling, First Touch, Technique, Flair, relatively quick.
Weaknesses – Aggression, Anticipation, Bravery, Concentration, Decisions, Teamwork, Tackling, Jumping Reach, Strength.
Angelo Sagal, 33, was a free signing last year and has completed one full season on the left side of midfield. Despite him heading into his final years as a professional footballer, his high Natural Fitness means that he hasn’t declined much at all. Mentally well-rounded.
Strengths – Dribbling, First Touch, Technique, Anticipation, Off the Ball, Natural Fitness
Weaknesses – Tackling, Bravery, Jumping Reach.
Cristian Barrios, 28, is Viktoria Köln’s biggest earner at £16k a week. A free signing from Colombian football, the tiny five foot four winger is quick, likes cutting inside and loves to play a nice through ball as much as dribbling past the opposition full-backs. A bit of a risk if he does not adjust to a hardworking German side, but could be a difference maker. Consistent and enjoys big matches.
Strengths – Acceleration, Pace, Dribbling, good attribute spread across other key areas like Crossing, Flair, Vision, Passing and Technique.
Weaknesses – Jumping Reach, Aggression.
Manolis Saliakas, 29, is a new free signing from German rivals St. Pauli but could be VK’s best player, on paper at least. A natural right-back, Scutari has already said he will be initially deployed on the right side of midfield. Consistent and a well-rounded athlete.
Strengths – Crossing, Long Throws, Aggression, Work Rate, Natural Fitness, Stamina, well-rounded attributes almost everywhere else.
Weaknesses – Jumping Reach, Dribbling, Finishing.
Forwards
Lex-Tyger La Tigre Lobinger, 27, has been here since prior to Enzo Scutari’s arrival. He has gone from crucial number nine to benched at times (for example when Edin Džeko took his spot), but has remained at the club. Not prolific (only 14 goals in the last two seasons combined after 19 in his first under Scutari), but seems to pop up and score important goals at critical moments, and is always a menace to opposition centre backs.
Strengths – Jumping, Natural Fitness, Pace.
Weaknesses – Composure, Decisions, overall attribute level is weaker than his rivals for a starting spot.
Jon Bautista, 31, is Viktoria Köln’s record signing as a £2.6million capture from Eibar. He will be hoping to supersede a previous fan favourite Spaniard in a striking berth, the long-departed Borja Bastón. Despite wearing the 10 shirt, he is a natural number nine. Great finishing, heading, technique and off the ball movement, but also has good strength to hold up the ball and tussle with defenders. I have high hopes.
Strengths – Finishing, Heading, Technique, Off the Ball, Strength, good across all other key attributes.
Weaknesses – Only that I wish he was a few years younger than 31.
Muhammed Badamosi, 27, arrived ahead of last season on a free transfer and has 14 goals in 28 appearances. A six foot five man mountain, Badamosi is a powerful aerial presence who has better movement as a natural target forward than many would give him credit for. May start alongside Bautista, but we’ll see.
Strengths – Jumping Reach, Off the Ball, Work Rate, Bravery, not slow.
Weaknesses – First Touch, Passing, Concentration.
Clayton, 27, is the second Brazilian to link up with the squad this season, alongside goalkeeper Cunha. A £1.7million signing from Vasco Da Gama, Clayton has scored 32 goals in the past three seasons combined, with most of his appearances coming from the bench. An impressive return. He is an aggressive and determined battler up front, and I liken him to Alfredo Morelos.
Strengths – Long Shots, Aggression, Bravery, Natural Fitness, Strength.
Weaknesses – Dribbling, First Touch and Technique could be better.
Summary
A squad who have been improved considerably in all areas. Interestingly, a clear DNA of a Scutari player has emerged, and the makeup of this squad has the Enzo Scutari stamp on it now. Comprised mostly of hard-working and aggressive well-rounded players rather than technical free spirits, Viktoria Köln have the oldest squad in the Bundesliga, though that is skewed by Rojo and Advincúla of course.
They are also the shortest squad in height in the division (no jokes please, Dan Gear) and the slowest, but in the top four for Aggression.
How will our first season in the UEFA Champions League go, and how will we fare in the Bundesliga given our significant improvements? We are about to find out.
Given that the deep 4-4-2 (explained in detail here) will remain, but with one eye potentially on a three at the back system, who would you pick as first choice in the eleven? Let me know on Twitter.
Thanks for reading.
FM Stag