Georg Koch, a German football goalkeeper who made 213 appearances in the Bundesliga and later worked in goalkeeper coaching and scouting, died on March 4, 2026. His cause of death was undisclosed.
Koch came through youth football at Bayer 04 Leverkusen and became a long-serving presence between the posts in Germany’s top division. He played professionally for clubs including Fortuna Düsseldorf, MSV Duisburg, and 1. FC Kaiserslautern, with additional playing stops including PSV and Arminia. He made his Bundesliga debut for Fortuna Düsseldorf away at Werder Bremen at the start of the 1995/96 season, and he later came to be regarded as a cult figure at Kaiserslautern.
His time as a player was later shaped by an abrupt, unusual turning point. A serious injury caused by a thrown firecracker contributed to an early end to his playing career, cutting short his work on the pitch and redirecting what came next.
After retiring, Koch remained closely tied to the position he had played at the highest level, moving into goalkeeper coaching and scouting. His later work included roles connected with Dubai SC, Sonnenhof Großaspach, VfB Oldenburg, FC Wil, Fortuna Köln, and Viktoria Köln.
In interview remarks published in 2024, he described his pancreatic cancer as incurable, and said the diagnosis was made in April 2023 after a routine examination and conspicuously poor blood values. Doctors initially gave him about six months.
Koch is remembered for a Bundesliga career that totaled 213 appearances, and for staying involved in the game afterward through coaching and scouting work devoted to developing goalkeepers.