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BERLIN, Dec. 12-- Peter Stoeger is what one might call an institution. The 51-year-old Austrian could easily survive in Cologne without spending any money on food or accommodation because of his widespread popularity among the locals. The former midfielder stands for a four-year-long era of stability at a football club that was not spending a lot of energy on consistency before he came in 2013. Not even a disastrous first leg of the 2017/2018 season could harm his untouchable reputation, as Stoeger is more than just a football coach to Cologne: he is a father figure. That might be the main reason why Borussia Dortmund remembered his abilities when in deep trouble in advance of their next Bundesliga game against FSV Mainz this Tuesday evening. Stoeger has "emphatic abilities," says Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc. "He has shown he can reunite a divided squad suffering from cracks in their team spirit," the former striker was quoted as saying. Precisely what will be Stoeger's job in Dortmund? He won't be the man having to invent a brand new tactical system, but to teach a squad the basics of teamwork to a squad that has fallen apart into small groups. It's a problem pundits say is a leftover from the era of Thomas Tuchel, who departed last summer after two years with the club. 54-year-old Peter Bosz did not manage to solve the problem as he struggled to implement a new tactical system, losing his team's trust. Stoeger never before worked with a side of that quality and ambition. After achieving national titles in Austria, Stoeger joined Cologne in the second division, helping them make it to the Bundesliga. Cologne's game came along without big surprises but stood for a reliable defense. "His teams always had remarkable stability. That is what our team lacks most at present," Zorc said. | 
