“I will continue to have close ties to FC and follow the fortunes with great passion. It was an unforgettable time.”
After nine years it’s finally over!
Alexander Wehrle (47) leaves FC at the end of the week. He becomes CEO at VfB Stuttgart (BILD reported).
Cologne’s Noch-Finanz managing director said goodbye to the team and employees today! And FC said “Bye” to Wehrle. And how…!
Wehrle first stood on the field with the team in the morning and gave a short speech. Players and coaching staff applauded.
Then it got really emotional: Wehrle said goodbye to the workforce in a video call. President Werner Wolf (65) also gave a speech. The employees had tears in their eyes. The team then interrupted the training session, the players held up silver letters in the air and wrote “THANK YOU ALEX” together. All of this shows how popular Wehrle is in Cologne!
Photo: Andreas Pohl
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/danke-alex-und-quot–die-team-abschiedete-alexander-wehrle-mit-riesen-luft-letteren-55d2f4c8facc4233b9fc11cc062df819-79410290 /image/7.image.jpg”/> “Thank you Alex” – the team said goodbye to Alexander Wehrle with giant air lettersPhoto: Andreas Pohl
NOBODY HAS NEVER BEEN GOODBYE AT FC!
The Wehrle-Aus was accompanied by the Cologne singer Stefan Knittler, who sang the FC anthem “Mer stonn zo Dir” with the support of his guitar. Pure goosebumps! Wehrle watched, touched, from his office window…
“At the latest when the anthem is played, it gets emotional. And if it’s the last one and then with this weather, then it’s certainly very emotional. But that’s how it is in Cologne…” he said afterwards.
Wehrle continues: “I was actually hoping to find it less emotional. But it was just the opposite. The employees gave me great gifts. With many vouchers that I can redeem over the next 100 years. For example a wine trip, a personal WhatsApp book with many stories. There were also two cakes that we eat together.” There was a large wall picture of the board of directors with a view of Cologne.
Wehrle then gave everyone burgers and fries. He had specially ordered a food truck for this, which was parked in front of the cabin.
Baumgart already misses him
Wehrle leaves a big gap at FC. Coach Steffen Baumgart (50) also says in the documentary “24/7”: “Alex will be missing. Professionally, because I don’t have the feeling that there are many people in Germany who can do what he can do. And as a person, because he is very special in the responsibility he bears.”
Tomorrow Wehrle is in action for the FC in the DFB Bundestag for the last time, Saturday is his last official working day. The FC contract expires on March 20th. A day later he starts in his new (old) home in Stuttgart.
Photo: Andreas Pohl
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/stefan-knittler-l–spielte-die-fc-hymne-fuer-wehrle-ac63845d488846408347284281558ed8-79410378/Bild/5.bild.jpg “/> Stefan Knittler (left) played the FC anthem for WehrlePhoto: Andreas Pohl
“After around nine years, it’s a certain challenge to emotionally process such a change, there’s no question about that,” says Wehrle.
The office has long since been cleared. The moving boxes packed. Wehrle: “When you clear out your cupboards and sort your desk, then you find one or the other almost historical treasure, remember all the experiences and of course that touches you.”
Photo: Andreas Pohl
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/die-vize-bosse-sauren-l–und-wettich-r–ueberseits-wehrle-ein-koeln-bild-26b002dfcdbb43a7bcc5853ce64b2b3d- 79410416/image/4.image.jpg”/> Vice bosses Sauren (left) and Wettich (right) presented Wehrle with a picture of ColognePhoto: Andreas Pohl
