They join Hamburger SV, who secured promotion the previous week, in returning to Germany's top flight.
Eric Martel opened the scoring in the first half, powering a header past the Kaiserslautern defence, before Luca Waldschmidt doubled the lead with a clinical finish.
The Billy Goats dominated proceedings, delighting their raucous home crowd at the RheinEnergieStadion. "We played with heart and focus from the first whistle," said veteran coach Friedhelm Funkel, who celebrated his seventh Bundesliga promotion, a record unmatched by any other manager.
The second half saw Cologne maintain their intensity, despite Waldschmidt's missed penalty in the 56th minute. Florian Kainz restored the momentum with a curling strike, and Mark Uth, in his final professional match, sealed the rout with a composed finish. "To end my career like this, with promotion and a goal, is a dream," Uth said after the match. The victory capped a remarkable campaign, with Köln amassing 61 points to claim the 2. Bundesliga crown.
Hamburger SV, despite a 3-2 defeat to Greuther Furth, celebrated their long-awaited Bundesliga return. "Congratulations to Cologne for the championship, but we're thrilled to be back where we belong," said HSV coach Merlin Polzin via a post-match press conference, as shared on X by the club's official account. The Hamburg fans, though denied the title, are already planning a city-wide celebration.
Meanwhile, SV Elversberg have kept their Bundesliga hopes alive, securing third place with a 2-1 win over Schalke 04. Goals from Lukas Petkov and Maurice Neubauer propelled the Saarland side into the promotion/relegation play-offs against 1. FC Heidenheim. The first leg is set for Thursday, with the return match on May 26.
"We're the underdogs, but we've got nothing to lose," said Elversberg's star striker Fisnik Asllani, who contributed 18 goals this season. Remarkably, this is only Elversberg's second season in the 2. Bundesliga, having risen from the third tier in 2023.
Cologne's triumphant return and HSV's redemption mark a thrilling climax to the 2. Bundesliga season, while Elversberg's fairytale journey hangs in the balance.
Borussia Dortmund have set their sights on Sunderland's rising star Jobe Bellingham, making the 19-year-old midfielder their primary target for the summer transfer window, according to multiple reports.
Thomas Muller's departure from Bayern Munich after 25 years has sparked intense speculation, with Major League Soccer emerging as a potential destination for the 35-year-old German icon.
Manchester City have pulled out of the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen's star midfielder Florian Wirtz, citing the staggering costs of a potential deal, according to multiple reports.
Liverpool are on the verge of securing Bayer Leverkusen's dynamic full-back Jeremie Frimpong, with reports indicating the deal is close to completion.
