Team Focus: Sought After Weinzierl Defying Odds with Industrious Augsburg
Henry Ford famously once said "Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” It’s a quote befitting of the cohesion of an Augsburg side currently lying in 3rd place in the Bundesliga. The man behind the wheel of their success is Markus Weinzierl, whose systematic approach to coaching has driven them to unchartered territory, with the Bavarian team's current run of four consecutive wins their best ever in the top tier in the club’s history.
Some may label Augsburg a team of misfits and to a certain extent it may seem a rational assessment, at least on initial inspection. Several players have failed to have efficacious spells at previous clubs and their team sheet doesn’t exactly scream star quality. Despite this, Weinzierl has developed an economical and hard working side capable of causing problems to any team in the league.
After his appointment in the summer of 2012, many questioned the credentials of the relatively unknown coach, but chairman Walter Seinsch and sporting director Stefan Reuter placed their faith in the thirty-nine year old - pinching his services from a SSV Regensburg side, whom he had just led into the second division. But doubts that were at first only from afar slowly turned into concerns closer by as Augsburg would go on to gain just nine points, winning just one match in seventeen, in the Hinrunde (first half of the season). It seemed as though relegation would be an inevitability. The board kept their faith in Weinzierl, though, who defiantly switched to a 4-1-4-1 formation after the winter break. This was the first exhibition of the coach’s tactical prowess as he guided them to Bundesliga safety with a crucial win in the final match of the season.
Their survival laid the foundations for what would be an enterprising 2013/14 campaign in which they finished 8th in the league, agonisingly just one point off a Europa League spot. It wasn't long before Weinzierl drew comparisons with the highly acclaimed Jürgen Klopp, with his side bearing resemblance with Dortmund due to their high-octane style of play. Hassling opponents was a key component in Weinzierl’s pragmatic masterplan, winning the ball in the final third of the pitch 2.4 times per match on average - the sixth most of all Bundesliga sides. It was a daring approach for a team that had just finished 15th and were largely expected to face another relegation battle. The core of the team remained largely consistent, with defensive midfielder Daniel Baier a vital part, making a significant total of 240 tackles & interceptions, more than any other player in the league.
It is worth noting Augsburg have never had the financial power of their competitors, Weinzierl has had an estimated average net spend of £3m per season. This summer they lost their standout performer and top goalscorer from last season, André Hahn (scorer of 12 goals in the domestic campaign, 5 being scored on the counter - the most in the league), after Gladbach activated a measly release clause in his contract earlier in the year. They also had to cope with the departure of experienced players Kevin Vogt and Matthias Ostrzolek, but the shrewd purchase of Baba Rahman has seamlessly replaced the latter. The left-back's ability to surge forwards on the wing and provide menacing crosses from the byline has allowed Weinzierl to allow both full-backs greater freedom to attack, while the other full-back is Paul Verhaegh, part of the Netherlands World Cup squad that came third this summer and currently the club's top goalscorer, although all 5 goals have come from the spot.
Weinzierl has an ‘opened door’ approach when it comes to managing players, stressing the importance of remaining at eye level with his team. Even with his unpretentious personality, his demeanour commands respect, remaining very firm with his beliefs whilst "attaching great importance to discipline" as stated by Reuter. It’s player such as experienced winger Tobias Werner who have flourished under the youthful exuberance of the head coach, contributing towards 30% (4 goals, 2 assists) of Augsburg goals in the league this season and 34% (9 goals, 7 assists) to the season previous. The influential character, who was originally playing in the reserves in 2008, has kept a level-headed approach to the season thus far, stating that avoiding relegation would remain the club's priority. Another example is creative veteran Halil Altintop, who also fashioned his best return in the Bundesliga last season, scoring 10 goals in 34 starts.
With the Bavarian derby looming, Augsburg’s training session earlier the week was bombarded with journalists and TV cameras, centre-back Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker jokingly exclaimed "Either something special happened or we are playing Bayern in the weekend!”. It was of course the latter statement that was drawing attention and although no one will deduce a great deal from the outcome of the match, die Függerstädter have reason to be optimistic; last season they were the first team to breach Bayern’s 53-match unbeaten run with an energetic performance that was rewarded with a 1-0 win. Odds-on favourites Bayern are expected to come away with a win, but the game should give a greater indication as to the level that Weinzierl’s men are capable of performing at. Super-sub Alexander Esswein joined in the jokes, stating “If we beat Bayern as well, we can start talking about that next week.” when questioned about the possibility of Europe.
It may have seemed a farfetched concept only a couple of years ago, but former and much cherished chairman Walter Seinsch used to recall vivid dreams about his side playing in Europe. Although Weinzierl has reaffirmed that the media shouldn’t get too carried away about current proceedings, it may be the managerial prodigy who could take the dreams of Seinsch into the realms of reality.
Therefore, it’s imperative that the club keep Markus Weinzierl as long as possible, although it wouldn’t be too surprising if he were to be blinded by the lights exuded from a lucrative offer from one of Europe's powerhouses before long.
Do you think Augsburg can make it into Europe this season? Let us know in the comments below
