Markus Weinzierl, former coach of FC Augsburg, has strongly criticized his former club for the manner of its separation with managers Jess Thorup and Sandro Wagner. In an interview with the 'Augsburger Allgemeinen', the German coach assessed that the club's personnel decisions were difficult to understand and financially unjustified. Weinzierl recalled that Thorup finished the season in 12th place, and Wagner was dismissed after a few months with a high severance package, which poses a problem for a club like Augsburg.

Criticism of Thorup's dismissal

Weinzierl considered the dismissal of Jess Thorup incomprehensible both from a sporting and human perspective, recalling that the Dane finished the season in a safe 12th place in the Bundesliga.

Incomprehensible decision on Wagner

The coach criticized the hiring of Sandro Wagner with great fanfare and his quick dismissal in November with a severance reportedly around three million euros, which he considers particularly damaging financially.

Financial burden for the club

Weinzierl emphasized that such costly personnel decisions are very difficult for a club the size of FC Augsburg to bear, pointing to a problem of resource management.

Background of managerial changes

Augsburg unexpectedly parted ways with Thorup in the summer, hired Wagner, only to end cooperation with him at the beginning of December and entrust the role on an interim basis to the former coach Manu.

Markus Weinzierl, the former FC Augsburg coach who previously led the club to its greatest successes, has issued sharp criticism of the officials at his former employer. In an interview with the German newspaper 'Augsburger Allgemeinen', he commented on the club's recent personnel decisions regarding managers. He finds the dismissal of Jess Thorup particularly incomprehensible.

„Erst einmal war die Entlassung von Jess Thorup sportlich und menschlich in meinen Augen nicht nachvollziehbar. Der FCA hatte die Saison als Zwölfter beendet.” (First of all, the dismissal of Jess Thorup was, in my eyes, not comprehensible from a sporting or human perspective. FCA had finished the season in twelfth place.) — Markus Weinzierl Thorup, the Dane, left the club after the conclusion of the previous season, in which Augsburg finished in a safe, mid-table position in the Bundesliga. His successor was Sandro Wagner, a former Bundesliga player and assistant coach for the German national team, who was hired with great fanfare.

FC Augsburg, founded in 1907, is a relatively modest club compared to giants of German football like Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund. Promotion to the Bundesliga in 2011 was a historic success, and maintaining a place in the top flight for over a decade is considered a significant achievement. The club does not have the budgets of the league's wealthiest teams.

Weinzierl pointed out that the decision to dismiss Wagner already in November, after just a few months of work and with a high financial severance, was particularly misguided. "Sandro Wagner was hired with great goals and fanfare. Dismissing him then in November with a generous severance, reportedly around three million euros, I consider very difficult for a club like FC Augsburg," said the former coach. Such a sequence of events – first the unexpected separation with the relatively successful Thorup, then the costly hiring and quick dismissal of Wagner – constitutes, in his view, a serious financial and reputational burden for the club. The team is currently being led on an interim basis by the former coach Manu, although the articles do not specify his full name. Weinzierl's statement, from an experienced coach familiar with club realities, sheds light on internal managerial problems at Augsburg and raises questions about the long-term sporting strategy.

Managerial Changes at FC Augsburg (2025): Manager before 2025/26 season: Jess Thorup → Sandro Wagner; Timing of change: Summer 2025 → December 2025; Current manager (February 2026): Sandro Wagner → Manu (interim)

Mentioned People

  • Markus Weinzierl — Former FC Augsburg coach, criticizing the club's personnel decisions
  • Sandro Wagner — Former FC Augsburg manager, dismissed in November 2025 with a high severance
  • Jess Thorup — Danish manager, predecessor of Wagner at FC Augsburg, dismissed in summer 2025