FC Augsburg announced Monday it has parted ways with head coach Sandro Wagner by mutual agreement, just months into his tenure, following a string of poor results. The decision came two days after a 3-0 loss to Hoffenheim in a German Bundesliga match.
Executive Director Michael Ströll stated the club no longer had the conviction to believe Wagner could turn the team’s fortunes around. “We would like to thank Sandro and his coaching staff for the work and passion they showed,” Ströll said in a statement. “In conversations after the game against Hoffenheim, we realized that the belief and conviction to reverse the situation no longer existed.”
Augsburg sits 14th in the German Bundesliga standings with 10 points after 12 matches. The club is three points clear of the automatic relegation spots and two points above the promotion/relegation playoff position.
Wagner, who turned 38 on Saturday, recorded four wins, one draw, and nine losses across 14 matches in charge of the team.
In addition to league struggles, Augsburg was eliminated from the German Cup in the second round, losing 1-0 to second-tier side Bochum.
Manuel Baum, the club’s head of development and innovation, will take over as interim coach until the winter break. Baum previously served as Augsburg’s head coach for three seasons from 2016 to 2019.
Wagner acknowledged the disappointment, stating he approached the role with great energy and passion. “We wanted to make big changes together, but, unfortunately, we couldn’t achieve what we expected in this short period,” he said. “I want to thank everyone for the trust and support I received.”
This was Wagner’s second head coaching position, having previously led Unterhaching to promotion to the third division between 2021 and 2023. A former German international striker, Wagner played for clubs including Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen, and Hoffenheim. He also served as an assistant coach for Germany’s senior and U20 national teams.