Since leaving 1. FC Köln last spring, Timo Horn has been without a club. Now the goalkeeper is set to become number 2 at Austrian subscription champions RB Salzburg
327 competitive matches in the Bundesliga, Bundesliga 2, DFB Cup and Europa League have been played by Horn for 1. FC Köln. The keeper made the leap from the youth ranks to the professionals, established himself as a regular keeper and remained so for many years until Marvin Schwäbe replaced him under Steffen Baumgart. When Horn’s contract expired at the end of last season, the two sides did not agree to continue working together.
Horn to become new number 2
After a six-month wait, a new challenge now appears to be waiting for Horn, who was in goal for Germany at the 2016 Olympic Games and won the silver medal in Rio de Janeiro. The 30-year-old is on the verge of signing for RB Salzburg, where he is set to become number 2 behind Alexander Schlager. The 27-year-old has only been in goal for the champions since the summer; he joined from Linzer ASK, is also a regular goalkeeper in the Austrian national team and is likely to be in goal for Ralf Rangnick’s team at the European Championships.
However, RB apparently sees a need behind Schlager. Nico Mantl could or should leave the club, the 23-year-old German – once signed from SpVgg Unterhaching – is apparently no longer expected to develop further at the Austrian club. Mantl was loaned out to Aalborg BK in the second half of last season and, as number 2, had no chance against Schlager
Past at 1. FC Köln
Horn’s role at the new club should be clear. At 1. FC Köln, coach Holger Stanislawski once made him number 1 for the 2012/13 season. In his very first season with the club, he was promoted to the Bundesliga, then relegated and promoted again. As vice-captain and one of the faces of the team, he was a figure of identification for many years
