Christian Fuchs Embraces Coaching Challenge at Newport County

Former Austria international Christian Fuchs has made his return to British football after concluding his playing career with Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer. He stepped into the coaching arena unexpectedly, taking the helm of Newport County, a team that was struggling at the bottom of the League Two table at the time of his appointment.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Fuchs shared his thoughts on this challenging new venture: “I like a challenge, but this, for my first job, is probably the toughest of them all.” Under his leadership, the team has managed to climb off the foot of their division and is now just three points away from safety.

Fuchs acknowledges that there is still much work to be done. He previously reached out to ex-England international Jamie Vardy, who currently plays for Cremonese in Serie A, hoping to lure him to Newport. “I asked Jamie if he wants to pack his bags. Of course, I did, even though I knew what the answer would be!”

Since taking over, Fuchs has overseen a modest number of victories—two wins in his first twelve matches, including Newport’s first home victory in 289 days. He aims to draw inspiration from the managers he admired during his playing career, including Brendan Rodgers, Claudio Ranieri, and Dean Smith. He remarked, “You take bits and pieces—good things and bad things—but then you adapt it to how you feel is the right way. I don’t want to be a Thomas Tuchel or a Dean Smith; I want to find my own path. The essence lies in how you deal with people. I have phone numbers and I’m not shy about seeking advice.”

Fuchs admits he is as surprised as anyone to find himself in a coaching role, having initially considered pursuing business ventures outside of football, including launching a clothing line and starting a Fox Soccer Academy. “I never saw myself in this role,” he confessed. “To be honest, it didn’t entice me at all. Now, I really, really enjoy it.”

While fully committed to Newport, Fuchs still keeps a watchful eye on the fortunes of Leicester City, his former club, which is currently facing a points deduction in the Championship and searching for its fifth permanent manager in just 20 months after parting ways with Marti Cifuentes. Fuchs expressed his concern, stating, “It’s tough to see. The points deduction puts them right into a relegation battle. I checked the table right away. It hurts because, as dedicated as I am to Newport, I will always be a Leicester supporter. I have watched nearly every game since I left; it pains me deeply.”

When asked about the possibility of returning to Leicester in a coaching capacity in the future, the 39-year-old former left-back affirmed, “Yes. I’m not keeping secrets. My experiences with that club have created a special bond. When I left, I said you might lose a player, but you gain a fan. That’s what I am now. Chris Finn, Newport’s head of operations, recently joked with me about Leicester’s struggles, knowing how much the club means to me. I might need to keep it a secret, but I can’t. That said, my loyalty and hard work at Newport remain unwavering. This club provided me my first opportunity in the UK as a manager, and I am very grateful for that. Leicester will always hold a different significance for me.”

As Leicester battles relegation from the Premier League, Newport is focused on securing their safety when they host Grimsby on Saturday. Although Vardy will not be joining them, Fuchs is determined to inspire his team towards another miracle.