Coaching change in the Bundesliga: FC Augsburg and Sandro Wagner are parting ways effective immediately.
FC Augsburg had hoped Sandro Wagner would help the club finally shed its “gray mouse” image—but just 148 days after his introduction, the ambitious project has failed spectacularly.
The crisis-stricken Bundesliga club parted ways with the 38-year-old on Monday by mutual agreement, despite a contract running through 2028.
Manuel Baum will take over the unsettled team until the winter break. The 46-year-old had previously coached FCA from December 2016 to April 2019. He has been back at the club since June 2025 as “Head of Development & Soccer Innovation.” Baum also served as head coach of FC Schalke 04 from September to December 2020.
Baum is expected to turn things around—though things were actually supposed to improve at FCA with the assertive Wagner, the former assistant to national team coach Julian Nagelsmann. However, during his five-month tenure, he failed to put his own stamp on the club or get it back on a sustainable path to success.
In twelve league games under the former national team striker, the team suffered eight losses and earned only ten points, compounded by an embarrassing second-round cup exit against second-division side VfL Bochum. By the time of the recent 0–3 loss at Hoffenheim, the doubts had become too great. Following a meeting with Managing Director Michael Ströll and Sporting Director Benjamin Weber, the decision was made to part ways.
Even after the defeat at Hoffenheim, Wagner had seemed at a loss. “A first half like that is unacceptable; we can’t accept that,” he said. He described the “frustration” as “very great” and said it “hurts.” Apparently, even the club’s leadership no longer believed a turnaround was possible. Wagner’s attack-oriented approach has failed. Having conceded 27 goals, FCA has the worst defense in the league. For Wagner, this was his first stint as a head coach in the Bundesliga.
Reactions to Sandro Wagner’s departure:
“We’d like to thank Sandro and his team for their hard work and passionate commitment to our FCA. In discussions following the match in Hoffenheim, we realized that the belief and conviction to achieve a turnaround in the current situation were lacking. For us, the well-being of FCA is always at the heart of every decision we make, and that is why we have reached this conclusion,” says FCA Managing Director Michael Ströll.
“Sandro has initiated important processes in recent months and worked for FCA with great dedication; we thank him for that. As a club, we are confident in the path we have chosen and will continue to pursue it. Now we need to find stability and pick up points in the upcoming games,” says sporting director Benjamin Weber.
“I have always carried out my duties at FCA with great energy and passion. Together, we wanted to bring about significant change; unfortunately, we were not able to achieve that in the short time we had as we had hoped. I would like to thank everyone in leadership for their consistently trusting collaboration. I wish the club nothing but the best for the future,” says Sandro Wagner.