Manuel Baum brings new impetus to FC Augsburg – the change begins!

Manuel Baum brings new impetus to FC Augsburg – the change begins!

In football there is often a short line between success and failure. Manuel Baum has put this connection back on the right track at FC Augsburg. After Sandro Wagner was fired, Baum took over the team's fortunes as interim head coach on December 8, 2025. While Wagner and the team were stuck in the last third of the table and suffered eight defeats, Baum was able to immediately provide a breath of fresh air. His debut on the coaching bench was a complete success: Augsburg won 2-0 against a so-called feared opponent.

The change in the style of play was immediately noticeable. Baum advised the unsettled group to play “keep it simple”. This recommendation worked, and players like Keven Schlotterbeck, Dimitrios Giannoulis and Anton Kade were in excellent form. Baum was enthusiastic about how the match went and felt a “real flow” in the team. He also stated that as a coach it is about empowering the players. Compared to the previous course under Wagner, which was lost in details, Baum concentrated on the essentials and turned simple football into a new game idea.

A look back at Manuel Baum's career

Manuel Baum, born on August 30, 1979 in Landshut, has an interesting career. As a former goalkeeper, he went through several positions, including youth at TSV 1860 Munich and time at various amateur clubs. He has made a name for himself not only as a player but also as a coach. Before his return to Augsburg, he was also active with the Germany U20 national team and briefly took over the head position at Schalke 04 in 2020 before moving to Leipzig as sporting director in 2023. In 2025, Baum finally returned to Augsburg, where he initially took on the role of head of development and football innovation before taking the reins of the professional team. Wikipedia illuminates these stations comprehensively.

The coaching changes in the Bundesliga

Baum's rise is no coincidence. The pressure on coaches in the Bundesliga is enormous. Studies show that there have been countless coaching changes since the 1963/64 season. These fluctuations are, among other things, a sign of teams striving for quick success. According to a survey by Statista, hardly any coach stays in office until the end of the season if there is no success. With this in mind, Baum is being monitored to see whether he can cope with this pressure and lead the team into the upper regions of the table.

Looking forward, Baum wants to leave his time under Wagner behind him and look to the future with enthusiasm. “Simple solutions often work better,” he says and hopes that the momentum of his first game will bring Augsburg back on the road to success. The fans hope with him – there is something on the horizon and the signs clearly point to success!