The 1996-97 campaign saw 1. FC Köln, Die Geißböcke, secure a solid mid-table finish, ending 10th in the Bundesliga. The season was an absolute showcase for Austrian centre-forward Toni Polster, whose phenomenal 21 goals made him the league's second-highest scorer, a feat that also earned him the Austrian Footballer of the Year award. Polster, known to fans as "Toni Doppelpack" (Toni Brace), anchored an attack that delivered memorable victories, including a thrilling 3-2 upset against Bayern Munich and a 4-0 rout of rivals Bayer Leverkusen. It was a defiant, high-scoring year defined by the brilliance of their talismanic striker and remains a key chapter before the club's struggles later in the decade.