A clear style: Wagner in focus

FC Augsburg have appointed Sandro Wagner as their new head coach. The 37-year-old not only enjoyed a successful playing career, but has already shown as a coach that he has strong principles and a real eye for talented youngsters. Wagner signed a contract until 2028 on Wednesday, signalling the club’s joint ambitions for the future.

Wagner started playing football at a young age, joining FC Hertha München in the Munich district of Sendling aged three. He moved to FC Bayern’s youth academy in 1995 and eventually broke into the first team there to make his professional debut. Wagner played for nine different clubs in total, including TSG Hoffenheim, Hertha BSC, SV Darmstadt 98 and Tianjin Teda in China. Wagner scored 44 goals in 180 Bundesliga games, won the title three times and the DFB-Pokal on two occasions.

Wagner played under over 20 different coaches in his professional career, including the likes of Jupp Heynckes, Ottmar Hitzfeld and Thomas Schaaf. He was always analysing, making notes and asking questions. The role of head coach was something that fascinated him early on his career and he didn’t see it as a plan B, but rather the next logical step for him.

Promotion winner with a young squad in Unterhaching

Wagner’s coaching career began at SpVgg Unterhaching. Initially working within their academy, he quickly stepped up to become head coach of the first team. The former striker formed a tight-knit group and wasn’t afraid to hand responsibility to youngsters. In the 2022/23 season, 13 players under the age of 23 were regulars in his side as Haching won promotion to the third division.

Wagner then left Unterhaching in summer 2023 to become head coach of the U20 German national side, before soon joining Julian Nagelsmann’s coaching team for the senior side. Together they prepared Germany for EURO 2024, which saw them narrowly lose in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Spain. Wagner’s next step is to now become a head coach again.

High-intensity football

Wagner, married and a father of four children, has a clear idea of how he wants to play football. He likes his teams to play at a high intensity, while open communication and clear instructions are second nature to him. He describes his style as “relaxed, open and honest”, both on and off the pitch. “He’s exactly the kind of guy we need in our coaching team. He’s somebody that will motivate the lads and lead from the front, plus he knows the players,” said Julian Nagelsmann about his assistant.

Wagner’s new role in Augsburg will begin after the Final Four of the UEFA Nations League. “FCA have a clear philosophy, one that perfectly suits my style of play. I’m a young coach and I want to develop myself together with the club. The setup here in Augsburg is perfect for that,” commented the 37-year-old. “Like me, FCA are very ambitious and have strong structures and a great environment.”

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