Kissed the rival’s badge: Can he still become a Bundesliga fan favourite?

Some sentences age poorly. The Düsseldorf fans had to experience this firsthand this summer.

“I just love being here. I love that I feel so comfortable, I have a big responsibility in the team,” Ísak Jóhannesson said during the winter training camp to ‘Bild’, giving the supporters a good feeling. “I believe in the project, even if it takes a little longer. I’m someone who looks beyond the next six months.”

He reiterated these sentiments in February when he kissed the Fortuna emblem—after a penalty goal in the derby against 1. FC Köln. The start of a wonderful relationship?

📸 Lars Baron – 2025 Getty Images

To make it short: Unfortunately not. Because after all the declarations of love, he backtracked in May after his last second division game: “I love this club, but you never know what tomorrow brings.” Did he already suspect then that it would be his last game for Fortuna?

He wanted to reach the next level. Said and done. Because during the summer transfer period, Jóhannesson moved to the Bundesliga to rival 1. FC Köln and signed a contract until 2030. A stab in the heart for all Fortuna fans. They reacted with insults online, which led him to temporarily disable his comment function.

If any F95 fans still liked him, he likely lost their favor with a statement before the Gladbach derby. “I have already played against FC with Düsseldorf, but against Gladbach, it’s even more important,” Jóhannesson said to the Cologne ‘Geissblog’.

At least before the derby on Saturday evening (6:30 PM), he seems to reflect the feelings of his new fans. In Cologne, they likely see it similarly. He is particularly looking forward to the game against Gladbach, the Icelander revealed to media representatives after training on Wednesday: “I like playing exactly these derbies.”

The Icelandic national player has not only gained experience in such heated matches in Germany. With FC Copenhagen, he played five times against Bröndby IF and lost only one of them (two wins, two draws). So he is familiar with a hot atmosphere in the stadium.

But that’s not the only reason he could be so important for Cologne against arch-rival Gladbach. He not only passes many balls but also runs until he can’t anymore. With 12.08 kilometers per game, he ranks in the top 40 of the Bundesliga. Giving everything for his team—that will also be crucial in the derby.

With this attitude, Ísak Jóhannesson has already left his mark on Cologne’s build-up play and seems to feel very comfortable in Cologne. But does he have what it takes to become a fan favorite? After his transfer, he said: “I want to stay here for a very long time.” All Cologne fans can only hope that this sentence ages better—and that another move to the next rival doesn’t follow soon.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 RONNY HARTMANN – AFP or licensors