📉 Hero to zero in 3 weeks: Bundesliga coach fighting for his job

Three weeks is a long time in the Bundesliga business. Often, just a few games are enough to initiate a turnaround and give your own season a positive direction.

But sometimes, a stock that was once hot can fall deeper in just three weeks than that of Volkswagen in the late summer of 2015.

At FC Augsburg, the latter is currently the topic. Because Sandro Wagner, recently signed as a beacon of hope and media draw, finds himself surprisingly early in a difficult sporting situation.

Augsburg suddenly hip!

In Augsburg, they could actually sit back and relax, if it were only about the external perception. Because Wagner delivers: A clear edge, snappy quotes and a press presence of previously unknown extent are the order of the day in the Fugger city.

Even more so: The former cult striker makes FCA a topic of conversation beyond the city limits. And that's no small feat in the sleepy Bavarian part of Swabia. In short: Wagner reliably makes headlines.

It's just a shame that the table counts points, not headlines. And that can quickly become uncomfortable.

From Freiburg luck to Mainz debacle

The surprising 3:1 opening victory against SC Freiburg deceived many Bundesliga observers and was a freak result that probably would not have happened again with a tenfold repetition of the game's course. If you take the Expected-Goals value, for example, the sports club should have actually won this match. The Augsburg team merely benefited from hair-raising mistakes by the opponent and admittedly very efficient use of their own chances.

A week later, they managed to score two goals against FC Bayern, but the 2:3 should not hide the fact that FCA sometimes looked like a training partner for the record champions. 

More than the result, however, a sentence that Wagner made after the match stuck. "I don't see that we have less quality than Bayern," he boldly stated.

This statement may have been well-intentioned, but the next disillusionment followed at St. Pauli (1:2), before Mainz really rammed the frustration deep into the Augsburg soul: The Fugger city lost 1:4 and had to swallow the whistles of their own fans in addition to two goals against in the majority. Except for goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, he could have substituted all players early, Wagner explained later.

The dismal interim result: Ten goals conceded after four games. Only Union conceded more. Table position 16. No sign of euphoria.

Expert with image problem

Positive: The Augsburg misery can by no means be attributed to the lack of professional knowledge of the young coach. Ex-pro, Bayern past, esteemed TV analyst, third division promotion with Unterhaching, assistant coach of the national team - Wagner's CV reads impressively.

But currently it seems a bit as if he has overloaded the squad with his energy. Emotionally, tactically and media-wise, the Fugger city has rarely received more input. The fact that Wagner often behaves on the bench like an angry Rumpelstiltskin who is about to get a red card, probably doesn't help much.

The result: In a very short time, the coach, who is actually highly esteemed, lost many sympathies. When the sporting results are missing, minor unsportsmanlike conduct and snappy statements rarely go down well.

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Basler alarm and the coach question

And when someone like Mario Basler raises his finger on 'Sport1' in Doppelpass, it sticks. No matter how you may feel about the assessments of "Super Mario".

His verdict: Wagner appears "arrogant" and "overbearing". Even more: Basler publicly doubts whether Augsburg will stick with the 37-year-old for the whole season. His recommendation: first, they should bake bread rolls that are as small as the puppets of the famous Augsburg Puppet Box.

Also, coaching legend Friedhelm Funkel wrote in 'kicker' that it "becomes more dangerous the more boastful one appears." He further advised the young colleague: "Spreading optimism is part of it. But one should always mix in a good dose of humility." 

These are exactly the discussions the club wanted to avoid with the signing of Wagner. Instead of sinking into the relegation battle, they dreamed of a sporting and tabular step forward. But currently, the motto must be to get something countable again.

A narrow line

The away game at the pointless bottom of the table from Heidenheim comes at the perfect time. The Swabian adversary is considered by many experts as the weakest team in the Bundesliga and almost certain relegation. If you MUST score points, then against Heidenheim.

But if Wagner and Augsburg were to lose again against the blatant outsider from the Ostalb, not only the red lantern but also the first real crisis of this season threatens.

Of course, the club leadership will not (yet) sack Wagner in such a case. Five matchdays make as little a relegation candidate as a Europa League aspirant. But the mix of big words and missing results is highly dangerous. And the fans already proved last weekend that their patience has limits.

Wagner is thus facing his first real test in the top flight. He can talk, no question. Now he has to deliver. In a way, Germany's former football darling is playing for his future against Heidenheim!

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 Christian Kaspar-Bartke - 2025 Getty Images