Benjamin Weber often laughs when people bring up Chelsea's 2021 Champions League triumph, recalling his famous line, "For sure, I told Mason to turn and play the pass." He was referring to the decisive pass from Mason Mount to Kai Havertz that produced the solitary goal against Manchester City in the final. Weber spent several years as an analyst alongside Thomas Tuchel, first at Mainz, then at Borussia Dortmund, and finally at Chelsea. He describes his time at Stamford Bridge as the pinnacle of his career, saying that winning the title was "absolutely amazing" and that he prefers not to overstate or understate his contribution. While many of Tuchel's staff followed him to Bayern Munich and later to other top‑flight projects, Weber, now 43, chose a different route.
"When you fight for the Champions League and finally lift it, what else is there to chase? You always need a new objective," he explained.
Consequently, he left Chelsea to become managing director of Paderborn, a move he admits was emotionally difficult for both him and Tuchel. In 2025 he accepted the role of sporting director at Augsburg, a club that, although modest compared to his previous employers, has become a notable success story in German football. Augsburg have now enjoyed 16 straight seasons in the Bundesliga, a feat matched by only six other clubs. Weber's inaugural season at Augsburg turned out to be a landmark one.
The team secured its first top‑half finish in ten years, a result that came despite—or perhaps because of—a bold mid‑season coaching change. "It was a very tough decision and emotionally charged because I had sat on the opposite side of the table before. It would have been easy to hide, but I was there to make the hard calls," Weber said.
The club replaced Sandro Wagner with Manuel Baum, and the change paid dividends. "We were struggling with results, not development. By the end of the campaign we finished ninth, after a summer of extensive changes, and it worked," he added.
Having experienced the pressure cooker of elite clubs in Paris and London, Weber now enjoys a different perspective at Augsburg. "At the bigger clubs the pressure is enormous, but for me it was always about Thomas. I could hide behind him," he admitted.
At Paderborn he learned that signing the right player can be a matter of survival, a pressure that intensifies when a family depends on your decisions. At Augsburg his profile is higher, and he feels more exposed.
"I was always the hidden guy in football. Now I'm a little more in the light. I don't need the biggest stage, but when we succeed I'm part of it, and when we fail I'm also part of it," he reflected.
Weber believes his first major decision—keeping Baum as head coach—was the right one. Baum had initially taken the job on a temporary basis, intending to return to his role as director of development.
"Plans can change," Weber noted. "He kept an open mind, and although we weren't sure it would work, we all felt comfortable. It's human to adjust your perspective." This flexibility, Weber argues, is essential for a sporting director who must view the club from multiple angles. "I've spent my whole life doing analysis, so I can bring that mindset to recruitment.
I understand how coaches think, and that helps too," he said. Augsburg's ambitions are tempered by reality. The WWK Arena regularly hosts about 30,000 fans—a respectable figure but modest by Bundesliga standards.
Yet Weber sees stability as a unique asset. "Stability doesn't sound glamorous, but it doesn't mean standing still. We know we have to keep improving," he explained. The club aims to become a magnet for young talent, emphasizing player development and a stronger link to its youth academy.
Recent moves illustrate this philosophy: Rodrigo Ribeiro's loan from Sporting was made permanent after a promising season, Hennes Behrens arrived from Hoffenheim, and Sima Suso joined from Fortuna Düsseldorf, all three being 21‑year‑olds. "We want Augsburg to be known as a home for emerging players," Weber affirmed.
Looking ahead, Weber is not afraid to dream. "You don't have to be crazy, but you need a vision and a little bit of ambition," he said, referencing the inspirational stories of Sunderland and Brentford in England. He believes Augsburg could write a similar chapter in Germany if they cultivate work ethic and character.
"When you have those traits, you can bring out the best in yourself and hunt for success together," he added. The goal is incremental progress rather than overnight miracles, a mindset Weber embraces wholeheartedly. In the end, Weber feels confident that his decision to join Augsburg was the right one. He enjoys the blend of analytical rigor, hands‑on decision‑making, and the satisfaction of watching a modest club punch above its weight.
"I have the feeling it was a good decision," he concluded, looking forward to the next challenge and the possibility that Augsburg might become the next underdog story in German football.