Benjamin Weber often chuckles when people bring up Chelsea's 2021 Champions League triumph. "For sure," he says, recalling how he urged Mason Mount to deliver the perfect pass that allowed Kai Havertz to net the decisive goal against Manchester City.
That moment, he explains, encapsulates a period of his career that he still regards as the pinnacle of his professional life. Weber cut his teeth as a tactical analyst under Thomas Tuchel, first at Mainz, then at Borussia Dortmund, and finally at Chelsea. He describes his time at Stamford Bridge as "the best years of my life" and stresses that the victory was a collective effort: "I don’t want to overstate my contribution, but I also don’t want to diminish it." When Tuchel departed for Bayern Munich, most of his staff followed.
Weber, now 43, chose a different route. "After fighting for the Champions League and finally winning it, you start to ask yourself what comes next. You always need a new objective," he explains.
The answer was to step away from the glamour of the Premier League and take on a leadership role at a smaller club. He accepted the managing‑director position at SC Paderborn, a move he admits was emotionally challenging.
"I told Thomas it was a tough decision," Weber recalls. After a stint in Paderborn, he was appointed sporting director of Bundesliga side FC Augsburg in 2025.
"I’m not in the business just to be busy. I was curious enough to try something different," he says. Augsburg may not have the financial clout of Chelsea or Bayern, but the club has carved out a respectable niche in German football.
The team has now enjoyed 16 straight seasons in the top flight – a feat shared by only six other clubs in the league. Last season, Weber’s inaugural campaign, marked a watershed moment: Augsburg finished in the top half of the table for the first time in a decade.
That achievement was not without risk. Mid‑season, the club made the bold decision to replace head coach Sandro Wagner with Manuel Baum. "It was a very difficult, emotional choice," Weber admits. "I had been on the other side of the table, so I understood the pressure.
It would have been easy to hide behind the status quo, but I felt we needed a fresh approach to get back on track." The gamble paid off. Under Baum, Augsburg turned a sluggish start into a respectable ninth‑place finish, despite a summer of significant squad turnover.
"We struggled with results, but the underlying development was there. In the end the changes we made last summer proved effective," Weber notes.
Having experienced the intense scrutiny at clubs like Paris Saint‑Germain and Chelsea, Weber now appreciates the different kind of pressure that comes with smaller‑market teams. "At the big clubs the pressure is massive, but at a club like Paderborn the pressure is personal – you know a single signing can be the difference between survival and relegation. At Augsburg the spotlight is brighter on me personally, which is a new feeling," he says.
Weber describes himself as having been a "hidden guy" in football for years, working behind the scenes. Now, while Augsburg does not offer the same global stage as London or Paris, his profile has risen: "I don’t need the biggest arena, but when we succeed I’m part of that success, and when we fail I’m also accountable." One of his early decisive moves was to make Manuel Baum’s temporary appointment permanent. Baum had originally taken the reins as an interim solution, intending to return to his development director role.
"Plans evolve," Weber explains. "He kept an open mind, and we all felt comfortable extending his contract. It’s natural to reassess perspectives as circumstances change." Weber believes his analytical background gives him a unique edge in recruitment and in understanding a coach’s mindset.
"I’ve spent my whole career dissecting matches, so I can apply that insight to player scouting. Knowing how coaches think is also a valuable advantage," he says.
But how far can a club of Augsburg’s size go? The WWK Arena regularly hosts around 30,000 supporters – a solid figure, yet modest by Bundesliga standards. Weber stresses that stability is the club’s greatest asset. "Stability isn’t glamorous, but it doesn’t mean stagnation.
We know we must keep improving, and being seen as a perennial Bundesliga side helps us attract talent." He highlights the club’s growing reputation as a nurturing ground for young players. Recent signings such as Rodrigo Ribeiro (converted from a loan to a permanent deal after a promising spell from Sporting), Hennes Behrens from Hoffenheim, and Sima Suso from Fortuna Düsseldorf – all 21‑year‑olds – illustrate Augsburg’s commitment to youth development. "Players love coming to Augsburg because they see a clear pathway to first‑team football," Weber explains. "Our unique selling point is developing talent and forging a stronger link with our academy." When asked whether Augsburg should aim higher, Weber is cautiously optimistic.
"You don’t need to be reckless, but you have to dream a little and have a vision. Look at Sunderland’s resurgence or Brentford’s rise in England – those are stories that inspire.
Augsburg could become a similar story in Germany," he says. He emphasizes character and work ethic as the foundation for any future ambition. "If you have the right mentality, you can bring out the best in yourself and your teammates. We need to hunt together, be good hunters, and then maybe, step by step, we can climb higher," Weber concludes.
Reflecting on his journey, he feels confident that leaving the elite clubs was the right choice. "In the end, I believe it was a good decision," he affirms, looking forward to the next chapter of Augsburg’s evolution.