Manuel Baum will remain as head coach of FC Augsburg after extending his contract until summer 2028. The decision followed a strong second half of the 2025/26 season in which he guided the team from 14th to 9th place in the Bundesliga and secured a 17-point cushion above the relegation zone. Baum was initially appointed in December after a 0:3 defeat to Hoffenheim on an interim basis, with expectations limited to the Christmas period, but his impact led to an early extension. Under his leadership, Augsburg improved defensively and implemented a flexible 3-4-3 formation that gave players like Chrislain Matsima and Keven Schlotterbeck stability in central defence. The final league table for the 2025/26 season shows FC Augsburg in 10th place with 33 points from 29 matches (9 wins, 6 draws, 14 losses) and a recent form of DDLLL. The team scored 36 goals and conceded 53, resulting in a goal difference of -17, while the gap to league leaders Bayern München stands at 43 points. The next fixture is against FC Schalke 04 on August 30, 2026 at the WWK Arena. Baum publicly praised the scouting department for discovering Anton Kade from Basel and highlighted young players such as Mert Kömür, Noahkai Banks and Hennes Behrens as potential prospects for the German national team. Michael Gregoritsch, the 32-year-old striker standing at 1.93 metres tall, scored six goals and provided three assists in 17 appearances last season before being signed permanently from Brøndby following a half-year loan. Anton Kade, aged 22 and originally from Berlin, wore the number 30 jersey and contributed six goals and one assist. In midfield, Fabian Rieder and Han-Noah Massengo form a central partnership, while Robin Fellhauer demonstrated versatility across multiple positions. New defensive signing Calvin Brackelmann joins Jeffrey Gouweleeuw in the backline, with Finn Dahmen retaining his role as starting goalkeeper. Pre-season results included a 2:0 win over Cottbus in the cup, a 3:2 victory against Sassuolo, a dominant 15:0 triumph over SC Schwaz and a 5:0 success versus a Swabian selection, with the only blemish being a 2:5 defeat to Bournemouth. Baum emphasized that Augsburg has established a clear path under his leadership, built on youth development, scout-driven recruitment and tactical clarity. The contract extension signals continuity as the club aims to strengthen its Bundesliga identity. For more on the squad, visit our squad page, while upcoming fixtures can be found on our fixtures page.