Who would select Augsburg when Dortmund, Leverkusen or Leipzig come knocking? The embodiment of the gray Bundesliga mediocrity? Sandro Wagner selected FCA, who with the brand new head coach lastly desires to grow to be attractive. Subsequently, they’re taking full threat collectively.
2024/25 was probably the most Augsburg season ever. By no means something to do with relegation, momentary minimal probability of Europe neutralized with a foul season end, ending up in twelfth place. Mission achieved then? Sadly, sure.
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Nevertheless, the individuals of Fuggerstadt had truly anticipated extra final 12 months. The primary indication was the presentation of the visually placing “Roman jersey” in August, which for the primary time additionally appealed past the town limits. It was clear: Augsburg desires to face out, impress – have an aura.
Jess Thorup and Marinko Jurendic felt the brand new self-confidence lower than a 12 months later. Regardless of a carefree season, the coach and sports activities director needed to go away final Could. The brand new coach matches higher with the specified picture: a passionate Porsche driver and most just lately assistant coach of the German nationwide crew.
The dismissals of Thorup and Jurendic, nevertheless, additionally present that Wagner, not like generally portrayed, has not chosen a straightforward job to start out his head coach profession within the Bundesliga. {That a} comfy end in twelfth place is not sufficient was made clear by the Augsburgers in Could.
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So Wagner cannot slowly discover his means in, simply see how the Bundesliga works and if vital depend on the invincibility of the Fuggerstadt. He has to ship. And that which none of his predecessors might ship: enticing offensive soccer.
A hasty determination then? Wagner’s contract with the DFB ran till after the 2026 World Cup. If Julian Nagelsmann have been to satisfy his world champion promise even remotely, Sandro Wagner’s popularity would even have risen. Success makes you attractive.
The most effective proof right here is Hansi Flick. In 2014 he gained the World Cup as Jogi Löw’s assistant. His subsequent head coach station was FC Bayern, the place he gained the triple. Nevertheless, Wagner leaves the consolation zone of the DFB and dangers his at present excellent popularity at Augsburg.
📸 Matthias Hangst – 2018 Getty Photos
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If he has forgotten how shortly you possibly can go from hero to zero within the Bundesliga, Nuri Şahin can actually remind him. Additionally thought-about a rare teaching expertise, the 36-year-old needed to go away BVB final season after simply half a 12 months. Since then, there was no information of latest presents from high soccer. His profession on the sidelines has stalled. Wagner is barely a 12 months older.
A assured individual, as he’s, might rightly argue right here that the world belongs to the courageous. This connects him with the brand new FC Augsburg. Solely the literal teamwork does not fairly work but.
Lively soccer has been declared as DNA by Wagner. An enormous change for the Bavarian Swabians, who usually performed reactively earlier than. This was notably evident within the double take a look at match towards Rot-Weiß Essen. The primary recreation from the FCA’s viewpoint was misplaced 2:1. Each opposing objectives resulted from counterattacks that happened after a lack of ball by the superior Bundesliga crew.
Within the second recreation of the day, nevertheless, the brand new recreation concept absolutely labored out. By continued intense play with and with out the ball, the FCA pressured a 4:1 victory. The importance of take a look at video games is actually restricted. However, it means that the times of modest kicking in Augsburg are over. In any case, the coach desires to see a soccer that takes as a lot threat as he himself does in his personal profession planning. And so they have, as Wagner himself famous after the Essen video games, “nonetheless loads of work” forward of them.
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This was taken up within the coaching camp. Whether or not it was profitable can be proven in slightly below two weeks in the beginning of the season within the DFB Cup after which within the Bundesliga. The Augsburgers are already attracting consideration. A primary, small stage aim on the way in which to FCAura has due to this fact already been achieved.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.
📸 Christian Kaspar-Bartke – 2025 Getty Photos
