Bundesliga
Augsburg dismiss head coach Enrico Maaßen
Augsburg have parted company with head coach Enrico Maaßen just seven games into the 2023/24 season.
Augsburg currently lie 15th in the Bundesliga with just five points and one win so far, with only the three teams yet to win this campaign below them. The Bavarians were also knocked out of the DFB Cup in the first round by third tier Unterhaching back in August.
“We took the necessary time after the first seven matches and the home defeat to Darmstadt to look at the current sporting situation and development of our team,” said sporting director Marinko Jurendic. “After open talks with Enrico, we came to the conviction that we need to make a change in the position of head coach. Unfortunately, despite big efforts and intense work, Enrico and the team haven’t managed to buck the trend and display the desired development on the pitch.”
Managing director Michael Ströll added: “We’d like to thank Enrico for his tireless work for our club. However, we came to the conclusion that a change in the dugout is necessary to enact a turnaround after developments of recent weeks.”
Watch: Highlights of the loss to Darmstadt in Maaßen’s final game
Maaßen took over at the WWK-Arena at the start of 2022/23 after catching the eye in charge of Borussia Dortmund’s reserves following stints in the lower leagues with Drochtersen/Assel and Rödinghausen.
The 39-year-old oversaw 44 competitive fixtures at Augsburg with a record of 11 wins, nine draws and 24 defeats. Among those victories was a famous 1-0 success over Bayern Munich in September 2022.
Watch: Highlights of Augsburg’s famous win over Bayern under Maaßen
“I’m obviously disappointed about this decision because I’m convinced we couldn’t turned things around together,” Maaßen said in his farewell statement. “I’m grateful to Augsburg and those in charge that I got the chance to work in the Bundesliga and wish Augsburg only the best for the future.”
Former player and current reserves boss Tobias Strobl will take charge of the senior side on an interim basis as the club seeks a permanent new head coach. Die Fuggerstädter return to action after the international break with a trip to promoted Heidenheim on Sunday, 22 October.