Sandro Wagner is no longer the coach of FC Augsburg. © APA/afp / THOMAS KIENZLE

Sandro Wagner and Augsburg are parting ways.

Sandro Wagner's Bundesliga stint has come to an end. FC Augsburg and the former assistant coach to national team manager Julian Nagelsmann have terminated the ambitious project after just five months. According to media reports and information from the German Press Agency, the separation was by mutual agreement.

01 December 2025

From: dpa

Over the weekend, VfB Stuttgart suffered a 3-0 defeat at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. This further worsened their situation in the Bundesliga. Following the match, Wagner reportedly did not give the impression that he could resolve the team's crisis. He himself is said to have had doubts about the project's success. Even during the defeat, in which the score was 3-0 at halftime, Wagner had spoken of "25 catastrophic minutes."

The club apparently felt compelled to act. In 14 competitive matches under Wagner's leadership, there were four wins, one draw, and nine losses. He had signed a contract with Augsburg in the summer, running until June 30, 2028. According to the Augsburger Allgemeine, former coach Manuel Baum will take over until the end of the year. Baum coached the Bundesliga club from 2016 to 2019. He returned to FCA in the summer as Head of Development & Football Innovation.

Wagner declined to participate in the World Cup

For 38-year-old former German international Wagner, it's a bitter experience. It was his first head coaching job in the German top flight. He had even given up his attractive position with the German Football Association (DFB) and the national team a year before the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA to take it. Previously, the former Bayern Munich player had coached the youth teams of SpVgg Unterhaching and the club's third-division team, before moving to the DFB. After a stint in youth development there, he rose to become Nagelsmann's assistant.

Sandro Wagner was active at the DFB (German Football Association). © AFP / TOBIAS SCHWARZ

Wagner joined FCA in the summer with high ambitions and a strong desire to get things done. "I'm a young coach who wants to develop together with the club. The conditions for that are excellent in Augsburg. FCA, just like me, is very ambitious," he said at the time. The start was promising, but significant setbacks quickly followed.

New level of football and greater external impact

The club had prematurely parted ways with Jess Thorup after last season. The Dane had led Augsburg to twelfth place in their 14th Bundesliga season. But the management, led by CEO Michael Ströll, wanted to reach the next level of football with Wagner, aiming for a more active and attractive style of play, as well as better development of young homegrown talent.

Sandro Wagner will have to look for a new club. © APA/afp / THOMAS KIENZLE

The eloquent and self-assured Wagner was also intended to bring about an image change; away from the "wallflower" appearance and towards greater public appeal. This was indeed achieved with Wagner, but not in the hoped-for sporting context.