After Germany’s exit at the hands of Paraguay, fans in Bavaria have less reason to divide their attention between the World Cup and their local club. With FC Augsburg’s journey home, the club’s hierarchy can rally behind one of their own – England’s manager Thomas Tuchel.
At 52, Tuchel is among the most seasoned and successful coaches in the world. A former domestic champion with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint‑Germain, he has also lifted the Champions League trophy with Chelsea. Now he aims to end England’s 60‑year wait for major international silverware.
His remarkable ascension began in the decaying halls of FC Augsburg II, then playing in Germany’s fifth tier. Among the young talents he mentored were future Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann, an injury‑plagued defender who pivoted to coaching early, and Michael Strehl, who rose to become the club’s chief executive in 2024.
With longtime assistant and video analyst Benjamin Weber as Augsburg’s sporting director, there is a palpable echo of the club’s humble origins within this Bundesliga side. It’s no wonder the CEO speaks so reverently of his former mentor.
“Thomas was a nerd,” Strehl told CBS Sports. “Positive traits: meticulous, ambitious. Even in the fifth league, you could see those qualities. One couldn’t foresee where he’d end up, but I was confident he’d have a great career. To see him reach the Bundesliga, the Premier League, and win the Champions League feels almost supernatural.”
Strehl’s comments illustrate how extraordinary Tuchel’s rise has been. In the late 2000s, low‑budget football meant no data and only paper, pens, and sheer will. “Regardless of data or technology, he needed something tangible to communicate his vision,” Weber explained. “That’s why he was such a tactical genius.”
Tuchel’s success at Augsburg II soon attracted the attention of Mainz, where he was tasked with building on Jürgen Klopp’s foundation. Weber, a former tennis player turned video analyst, joined Tuchel there and later followed him to Chelsea, Dortmund, and PSG. Together they spent 14 years navigating triumphs and trials.
After Roman Abramovich’s sanctions forced Tuchel to act as an emotional shield for Chelsea fans in early 2022, Weber reflected, “I learned the importance of clear communication and daily adaptation. Circumstances change; you must respond accordingly.” He credits Tuchel with teaching, “always think several steps ahead – it doesn’t matter if it’s the fifth tier, Bundesliga, or Champions League; progression is essential.”
Now, with Augsburg’s sporting director Weber having overseen a coaching change and a strong Bundesliga finish, the club’s leadership continues to value the lessons from Tuchel. “If he wins the World Cup with England, he will have earned that success far more than many other managers in my view,” Weber said.
