1. FC Köln and Firstbeat Confirm New Multi-Year Deal

Firstbeat Sports and 1.FC Köln have announced a new multi-year agreement that will see the German club from the Rhine metropolis implement Firstbeat as part of their long-term performance strategy.

This partnership reflects a growing trend among elite European football clubs that recognize the importance of internal load data in enhancing athlete performance, optimizing training, and improving game day preparation.

The three-year deal includes access to Firstbeat’s Premium+ software, equipping the club’s performance staff with comprehensive physiological analytics, customizable reporting, and the Firstbeat Sports app and sensor.

Currently leading the 2. Bundesliga, 1.FC Köln is positioning itself for a strong return to the 1. Bundesliga. By integrating Firstbeat’s advanced physiological monitoring system, the club demonstrates its commitment to leveraging internal load data to maintain high performance and ensure a seamless transition to the highest level of football.

On the partnership, Max Weuthen, Athletics coach from FC Köln said: “At 1. FC Köln, Firstbeat will play an important role in how we manage and improve player performance. The data will help us monitor internal load more accurately, and adapt training based on each player’s individual physiological capacity and response.

Threshold values will be used to better control training intensity and avoid overloading, ensuring each session is targeted to the players. Firstbeat will also support us in planning training loads effectively across the season, aligning with both team goals as well as individual player needs.

During rehabilitation phases—both in indoor rehab and on-pitch return-to-play sessions—Firstbeat will be a key tool. It will allow us to guide players step-by-step through their rehab process, ensuring the right intensity at every stage.

Looking ahead, Firstbeat will be used across all areas of performance at 1. FC Köln. From daily training, rehab, and long-term athletic development, it will be a central tool in delivering the most effective, individualised support for our players.”

The club’s strong ambition to reclaim a leading position upon returning to the Bundesliga clearly reflects forward-thinking and a well-defined strategy ahead. Considering that integrating new technology into daily operations is often a longer process, it’s impressive to see how thoroughly the entire organization is preparing in advance. This proactive approach ensures that the setup and integration of the Firstbeat Sports system are firmly in place for the upcoming season, allowing the team to fully capitalize on its benefits.

Christoph Rottensteiner, Manager, Professional Sports Sales EMEA at Firstbeat, said: “From the beginning of our discussions, it was clear that 1. FC Köln’s performance staff had a strong understanding of their needs and a well-thought-out strategy for integrating Firstbeat Sports across the first team. Their preparedness and structured approach made the onboarding process incredibly smooth, with the entire performance team involved from the start. With this starting point, we are extremely pleased and confident in our ability to provide targeted support on training physiology to the club in its pursuit of long-term success.”

Firstbeat’s Premium+ Package will equip 1. FC Köln with real-time physiological data, allowing Coaches to monitor players’ internal training load response and recovery status with great accuracy and precision. This level of physiological insight will be instrumental in managing player workloads and injury risks throughout the season, ensuring that players are primed for peak performance on game days.

About Firstbeat:
Firstbeat provides advanced performance analytics for over 1,000 sports teams around the world. Firstbeat Sports is the leading athlete performance management platform, providing data on players’ training load, intensity, fitness, performance readiness, stress, and recovery to optimize performance, reduce injury risk, and fast-track athlete development.