Sandro Wagner Departs as FC Augsburg Head Coach Amid Poor Team Performance

FC Augsburg has announced the mutual termination of Sandro Wagner's contract as head coach after just five months in charge. The decision follows a string of disappointing results, including a recent 0-3 loss to Hoffenheim and the club's worst home Bundesliga defeat, a 0-6 loss to RB Leipzig. Wagner's tenure featured a record of only 4 wins, 1 draw, and 9 losses in 14 matches, marking the lowest points per game average for any Augsburg coach since their Bundesliga promotion in 2011.

Wagner, who stepped up from his previous role as assistant coach under Julian Nagelsmann, expressed gratitude for the collaboration with the club but acknowledged that the desired improvements were not achieved. FC Augsburg's managing director Michael Ströll emphasized the need for a change in direction, stating that there was insufficient belief and conviction in the current setup to reverse the team's fortunes.

Manuel Baum, who previously served as Augsburg's head coach from December 2016 to April 2019, has been named interim coach and will lead the team through upcoming matches against Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Werder Bremen until the winter break.

Wagner's appointment had brought excitement, as he gave up a chance to work with the national team at the 2026 World Cup to take charge of Augsburg. He had aimed to instill a more attractive, dynamic playing style and promote youth development but ultimately fell short of expectations. Commentators note that while Wagner's tenure ended prematurely after only 147 days, he is seen as a promising coach who can learn from this experience and may deserve future opportunities in German football coaching.