Originally appointed only until the summer, FC Augsburg are now in contention for European qualification under interim coach Manuel Baum, and the squad has made clear they want him to remain in charge.
Before the season began, a mid-table finish would likely have been accepted by FC Augsburg. Yet as they head into their final match against Union Berlin next week, the possibility of qualifying for European competition remains alive—thanks largely to Manuel Baum. Since taking over as interim coach in December, Augsburg have performed like a top-tier side, and the desire for the 46-year-old to stay on a long-term basis continues to grow.
“Of course,” answered playmaker Mert Kömür when asked after the 3-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach whether the team would like to continue working with Baum. “We’re winning games. It’s also fun to win here with the fans—with Manu, who pushes us. So it’s naturally good when you’re winning.” Since the coaching change from Sandro Wagner to Baum before matchday 13, Augsburg have collected 33 points—only six teams have been more successful in that period.
During this stretch, Augsburg have outperformed the likes of SC Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, both of whom sit just above them in the table. Following Freiburg’s 3-2 defeat to Hamburger SV on Sunday, Augsburg still have a chance to leap into seventh place on the final matchday and qualify for European competition for the first time since the 2015/16 season.
The strong results could also lead to a longer-term engagement for Baum. Originally, the former head coach—who previously led Augsburg from 2016 to 2019—was only temporarily moved from his role as director of development to the touchline, with plans to return to his original position this summer. However, calls for him to continue as head coach, including from players like Kömür, are growing louder.
“It’s not Christmas. You only express wishes at Christmas—that’s when you write a wish list,” Baum said on Saturday. “I think the first time I heard that question was before the first game against Frankfurt back in December. We’ve managed to avoid answering it for this long. We’ll get through this last week as well.” A decision is expected after the season ends, with the outcome still open.
