The club knew nothing, and the players only found out after the final whistle of the last Bundesliga matchday: Markus Weinzierl no longer wants to be the coach of FC Augsburg. His explanation indicates that there are massive problems between the club and Weinzierl.
Coach Markus Weinzierl leaves FC Augsburg. The coach of the Bundesliga soccer club announced this decision after the last Bundesliga game against SpVgg Greuther Fürth (2-1) on the Sky TV channel. That was his “last game”, said the 47-year-old. For him it was the “right decision”, he explained and said: “A lot has happened, I want to draw a line for myself.”
Weinzierl informed the team of his move shortly after the final whistle. Players should be the first to know. Weinzierl pointed out that there had been no talks with the club about his future.
Manager Stefan Reuter was not privy to his decision, said the former Schalke coach and showed clear cracks in the relationship. “It wasn’t planned that way,” said Weinzierl, and when asked whether Reuter was already informed, he answered unequivocally: “No, but he’ll know that now.”
Reuter then said: “It came as a great surprise to me.” And further: “I will not avoid him, but his decision is to be accepted.” He said: “We will sit down and find the right coach for FC Augsburg.” When asked if he would still be at FC Augsburg after the summer, the 55-year-old replied: “You can assume that.”
Weinzierl said he would have liked to stay in Augsburg for a long time. “My heart hurts too.” You have to “put everything to the test” and also “question every position,” Weinzierl announced on Thursday. “Until now” there have been no talks about extending his contract. In the “next week” Weinzierl and FC Augsburg wanted to talk about the future.
“I also have one or two questions that are then decisive,” said Weinzierl, giving examples: “What does the club want to achieve? What are the goals? What are the requirements?” Playing permanently against relegation is not enough for the Straubinger.
“It’s clear that you want more. That it’s always the task to finish above your budget, above your means,” explained Weinzierl, who has been in charge of FC Augsburg again since April 2021 in his second term. And even during his early days, the relationship with Reuter was not unencumbered.
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