Following a commanding 3:1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Augsburg is set to finish the Bundesliga season in the upper half of the table. The club still has a chance to qualify for international competition on the final matchday, as seventh-placed SC Freiburg are just one point ahead of the Fuggerstädter. Much of the credit for this strong second half of the campaign goes to striker Michael Gregoritsch and interim head coach Manuel Baum.
Gregoritsch, who previously played for Augsburg between 2017 and 2022, joined on loan from Brøndby IF during the winter transfer window. The Austrian international was brought in to fill the void in the center forward position and has delivered impressively. With six goals – level with Fabian Rieder and Anton Kade as the club’s top scorers – plus three assists, he has been instrumental. In the win at Gladbach, the 74‑time Austrian international scored a brace.
Augsburg’s managing director Michael Ströll confirmed to Sky that the club secured a purchase option for Gregoritsch. “We are waiting until the end of the season. For now, we have an option, a possibility to trigger it. That runs until the end of May or mid‑June. After the season, we want to sit down with Gregerl, discuss a few things, and then make a decision. But right now, he has all the arguments on his side, and we are very satisfied with him,” said the 41‑year‑old. According to the *Augsburger Allgemeine*, the purchase option is set at €500,000.
Alongside Gregoritsch, Manuel Baum has been a hero of Augsburg’s turnaround. The coach took over from Sandro Wagner at the beginning of December, when the team sat 14th with just ten points from twelve matches. Since his appointment, only six sides have collected more points. With an average of 1.57 points per game over 21 matches, Baum is the most successful manager since promotion‑winning coach Jos Luhukay in 2012.
Baum, who also serves as the club’s director of development, remains uncertain about his future. He has repeatedly emphasized his enjoyment of working with the youth setup. “It’s important what both sides want,” Ströll told Sky. “It’s not a one‑sided decision. We want to sit down, analyze what went well, and what each party desires. Manuel Baum has done a fantastic job in two roles since I brought him back to Augsburg last summer. He fits perfectly with FC Augsburg – I knew that before – and he’s doing an phenomenal job right now. The key question is: is Manuel ready to continue? That’s the most important thing at the moment. For now, there is no better coach for FC Augsburg than Manuel Baum. He is someone who truly connects with the club, lives the strategy and vision. After the season ends, I think we will sit down, similar to what we did in winter, discuss a few things, and then make the best decision for the club.”
