FC Augsburg Retains Manuel Baum as Head Coach Until May 2026

FC Augsburg, currently facing relegation challenges, has decided to retain head coach Manuel Baum through the conclusion of this season. The Bundesliga club officially announced that Baum, who had previously left his future in doubt during a recent press conference, has signed a six-month contract that secures his position until May 2026.

Since taking over from the dismissed Sandro Wagner, Baum has achieved a modest record of four points from three league matches. Augsburg currently sits in 15th place, just above the promotion-relegation playoff spot, with 14 points. FC St. Pauli occupies the playoff position with 12 points.

Baum is the third interim head coach this season to receive a permanent appointment, following Eugen Polanski of Borussia Mönchengladbach and Daniel Bauer of VfL Wolfsburg, both of whom initially served as temporary replacements but earned their roles due to their effective management.

The appointments of Bauer and Polanski coincided with the dismissal of their respective clubs’ sporting directors, a situation not mirrored in Baum’s case. He was brought back to Augsburg this past summer as the academy director before being elevated to head coach. Baum previously managed Augsburg from 2016 to 2019.

Support from Augsburg fans played a role in Baum’s appointment. He has expressed a desire to return to the academy this summer, contingent upon successfully helping the team avoid relegation. Following his less than favorable stint at Schalke, Baum continued his career as a youth academy director at RB Leipzig.

FCA Managing Director Michael Ströll stated, “We are convinced that Manuel Baum is exactly the right coach for our FC Augsburg in the current situation. He has our full confidence, and we are very pleased that Manuel has agreed to continue in the role until the end of the season. He has done a very good job since taking over our team at the beginning of December. We want to build on that together in 2026.”

FCA Sporting Director Benni Weber added, “The performances under Manuel Baum give us faith in a successful season. Manuel is also a perfect fit for our approach of developing the team and instilling confidence in young players. He has already proven this effectively in the past.”

Baum himself remarked, “I have really enjoyed working with our team. That’s why I’m delighted to be head coach of FCA for a bit longer. Ultimately, it will be important for me to return to my original position. Until then, we will do everything we can together after the short winter break to have a successful season.”