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FC sign Thomas Bröker

Offensive player switches from Fortuna Düsseldorf

1. FC Cologne secured the services of Thomas Bröker with the beginning of the upcoming season 2012/13. The 27-year-old offensive player has agreed on a three-year contract.

Frank Schaefer, head of the sport section:
'Thomas has made the decision in favour of 1.FC Cologne although he was given the chance to play in the Bundesliga. Our talks have been very positive. Thomas knows the club and its environment. He is a flexible offensive player who can appear in every formation. Due to his character strength and the way he plays, he perfectly meets the requirements of our new philosophy.'

Thomas Bröker is glad about his move to Cologne:
'For me, FC has always been and still is a matter of the heart. I'll give my best to reach our new aims. In personal talks our head coach Holger Stanislawski has fully convinced me of the club's new way. It is my goal to repeat the fairy tale of our promotion in 2005 and I am determined to repeat my recent personal success as well.'

Promotion with FC and Fortuna

        Having gone through the youth squads of SV Hemsen, Union Meppen and SV Meppen Thomas Bröker had joined 1. FC Cologne for the 2004/05 season. Under the guidance of former FC coach Huub Stevens the 19-year-old debuted in the match against Dynamo Dresden and he laid on the decisive goal for Lukas Podolski in Cologne's thrilling 3-2 home victory. After 16 appearances for the first team (1 goal, 3 assists) Bröker moved from the promoted team to Dynamo Dresden. From this club, via Paderborn and Ahlen he joined Fortuna Düsseldorf for the 2010/11 season. Here he became not only a first team regular but a key player as well. In the course of last season which resulted in Düsseldorf's promotion he scored 10 goals and laid on another 10 for his teammates in competitive matches. Even in the decisive relegation matches he scored a crucial goal in Berlin and gave another important assist in the return match. As a whole Thomas Bröker appeared in 61 competitive matches for Fortuna Düsseldorf, scored a total of 15 goals in addition to 11 assists.