Augsburg will be playing Bundesliga football for a 16th consecutive season when Germany’s top flight resumes in August. As one of the league’s most stable clubs, Benjamin Weber paid tribute to the collective group in an exclusive interview with Get German Football News.
“We try to always bring characters together because for us in Augsburg, it’s not like we have one or two key players, we have a good group and this is very important for us,” explained Weber, who was appointed in June 2025 after two years at 2. Bundesliga side Paderborn. “We want to have a successful group and not just depend on one player.”
Bundesliga survival is no easy feat, but Augsburg continue to impress both on and off the pitch.
“To be stable is very important because Augsburg also stands for stability, so it’s very good to have a plan together, to have the same mindset, and to make sure that we are aligned in the pathway and vision for the club,” added Weber. With five wins in six between January and February, and just one defeat in their last seven games, the Fuggerstädter extended the contract of Manuel Baum – who replaced Sandro Wagner in December 2025 – by two years.
“He did a great job because it wasn’t easy to get into a new role again,” he recalls. “It was a great performance from him, the whole staff and the players.
“It wasn’t already written that we perform like this in the second half of the season but we made some good decisions in the winter. We had a very good second half of the season. Manu was decisive and that’s why we extended his contract.”
The importance of character in team building
Noahkai Banks, Mert Kömür and Anton Kade have enjoyed breakthrough campaigns in 2025/26, each earning substantial minutes. “When we are scouting, everyone is talented,” added Weber.
“But it’s how do you bring your brain and your heart together and when we want to build a group, you want to be with people you like or that you can learn from, and you want to have a bond as a group where you can grow together. We’re really looking for and keen on finding the right characters for us and that was also a big thing in the second half of the season, because we had great character in the locker room.”
Weber emphasised the word ‘teamwork’ and that it’s not a certain individual that has contributed to Augsburg’s recent success, but a group from top to bottom, staff and players.
“Teamwork is the name and this should be key for the upcoming season, and for the next years for us, and when we have these talents [Banks, Kömür, Kade], we help them and they help us with their performance, and then we can grow together which is very healthy.
“We’re crossing our fingers that everybody can make the best out of themselves, and we will help but we are also growing – we have a nice stage to perform on in the Bundesliga.”
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