Benjamin Weber often jokes, "For sure," when recalling Chelsea's 2021 Champions League triumph. He recalls telling Mason Mount to turn and deliver the pass that set up Kai Havertz for the decisive goal against Manchester City. Weber’s career path is as intriguing as that moment. He served as an analyst for Thomas Tuchel at Mainz, then Borussia Dortmund, and later at Chelsea, describing his time at Stamford Bridge as "the best years of my life." He modestly adds, "Winning that title was absolutely amazing.
I don’t want to overstate my role, but I also don’t want to diminish it." When Tuchel left Chelsea for Bayern Munich, many of his staff followed. Weber, now 43, chose a different route. "When you fight for the Champions League and finally win it, what else is left to chase? You always need a new objective," he explains.
Consequently, he stepped away from the high‑profile environment and accepted the role of managing director at Paderborn, a decision he admits was difficult to convey to Tuchel. In 2025 he took on yet another challenge, becoming the sporting director of FC Augsburg, a club that, while modest compared to his previous employers, has become a notable success story in German football. Augsburg have now enjoyed 16 consecutive seasons in the Bundesliga – a feat shared by only six other clubs. Weber’s first season at the club proved to be a watershed moment.
The team achieved its first top‑half finish in a decade, a milestone that came despite, or perhaps because of, a bold mid‑season coaching change. "It was very difficult and emotional," Weber admits. "I’ve sat on the other side of the table, so I understand how it feels. It would have been easy to hide, but I’m here to make the tough decisions when they’re needed.
We needed something different to get back on track." The club dismissed Sandro Wagner and promoted Manuel Baum from within. Baum, initially appointed as a temporary caretaker while still holding the director‑of‑development post, steered Augsburg to a ninth‑place finish.
"We had problems with results and performance, but not with development. In the end, after many changes last summer, we finished ninth and it worked out," Weber says. Having experienced the pressure cooker of elite clubs in Paris and London, Weber now appreciates football from a different angle. "At the bigger clubs there was immense pressure, but for me personally it was always about Thomas.
I could hide behind him," he reflects. At Paderborn he learned the stark reality of smaller‑club survival: "When you sign a player and know the club’s existence hinges on that decision, that’s pressure.
Losing your job at a small club while supporting a family adds another layer of stress." At Augsburg his profile is higher, and with it comes greater scrutiny. "I was always the hidden guy in football. Now I’m a bit 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." Weber believes his analytical background gives him a unique edge in recruitment and strategy. "I’ve spent my whole life doing analysis. That can feed into our scouting, maybe give us an advantage. I also understand how coaches think, which helps as well," he notes.
The question remains how far that advantage can take a club like Augsburg, which draws roughly 30,000 fans to the WWK Arena – respectable, yet modest by Bundesliga standards. Stability, according to Weber, is Augsburg’s secret weapon. "Stable doesn’t sound sexy, but it doesn’t mean standing still.
It means we keep improving," he explains. The club aims to be seen as a nurturing ground for talent, a place where young players can develop and eventually move on to larger stages.
"Players love to come to Augsburg; it’s a good first step. We want to build a reputation for developing talent and strengthen our link with the youth academy," he says.
Recent transfer activity reflects that philosophy. Rodrigo Ribeiro’s loan from Sporting CP was made permanent after a promising season, while 21‑year‑old Hennes Behrens arrived from Hoffenheim and Sima Suso joined from Fortuna Düsseldorf. All three are seen as investments in the club’s future, reinforcing Augsburg’s identity as a home for emerging talent. Looking ahead, Weber encourages ambition tempered with realism.
"You don’t have to be crazy, but you need to dream a little, have a vision," he advises. He points to English examples such as Sunderland’s resurgence and Brentford’s rise as models of clubs punching above their weight.
"Maybe Augsburg can become that story in Germany." The core values he emphasizes are work ethic and character. "If you have those, you can bring out the best in yourself and hunt for the top together.
We have to want to hunt as a unit and be good hunters. Then we can progress step by step," he says. The target has shifted from simply staying in the Bundesliga to gradually climbing higher, a challenge Weber relishes. Reflecting on his journey, Weber feels confident about his decision to leave the glamour of top‑tier clubs for Augsburg.
"In the end, I have the feeling it was a good decision," he concludes, underscoring a career defined not just by trophies but by the satisfaction of building something lasting from the ground up.