Benjamin Weber can’t help but smile when asked about Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League triumph. “For sure,” he quips, recalling how he urged Mason Mount to “turn and play the pass” that set up Kai Havertz’s decisive strike against Manchester City. Weber spent several years as a tactical analyst under Thomas Tuchel, first at Mainz, then Borussia Dortmund, and finally at Chelsea. He describes his stint at Stamford Bridge as the most exhilarating period of his professional life.
“Winning that title was absolutely amazing. I don’t want to overstate or understate my contribution,” he says. While many of his colleagues followed Tuchel to Bayern Munich and beyond, Weber, now 43, chose a different route. “When you fight for the Champions League, finally win it, what’s left to chase?
You always need a new objective,” he explains. That mindset led him to leave the glamour of London and accept the role of managing director at Paderborn.
“I told Thomas it was a tough decision,” he admits. In 2025 he took the next step, becoming the sporting director of FC Augsburg, a club that, while modest compared to his previous employers, has become one of Germany’s most consistent presences in the top flight. Augsburg’s recent history is impressive: the team has now enjoyed 16 straight seasons in the Bundesliga, a feat matched by only six other clubs.
Weber’s first season at the club proved to be a watershed moment. The team secured its first top‑half finish in a decade, a success that came despite—perhaps because of—a bold mid‑season coaching change. “It was a very difficult and emotional decision,” Weber recalls. “I had sat on the other side of the table before, so I understood the pressure.
It would have been easy to hide, but I’m here to make the tough calls when they’re needed.” The club’s hierarchy acted swiftly. Sandro Wagner departed and Manuel Baum was promoted from within. Under Baum’s guidance, Augsburg turned the tide, finishing ninth after a summer of significant roster changes.
“We struggled with results, but not with development,” Weber notes. “In the end the changes paid off.” For Weber, the shift from the high‑pressure environments of Paris and London to a smaller German side has been eye‑opening.
“At the bigger clubs there was constant scrutiny, but at Augsburg the pressure is different,” he says. “When you sign a player knowing the club’s survival may hinge on that decision, that’s a weight of its own.
Losing a job at a small club while you have a family is another kind of pressure.” Now his profile is higher than ever. “I was always the hidden guy in football, but now I’m a little more in the light. I don’t need the biggest stage; I just want to be part of the success when it happens, and own the responsibility when it doesn’t.” One of Weber’s first major decisions—keeping Baum as head coach—proved to be the right one. Baum had originally taken the role on a temporary basis, intending to return to his duties as director of development.
Yet his performance convinced the board to make the appointment permanent. “Plans can change,” Weber says. “He kept an open mind, and we all felt comfortable with the new arrangement. It’s human to adapt your perspective.” Weber believes his analytical background gives Augsburg a unique edge in recruitment and strategy.
“I’ve spent my whole career analyzing games. That insight can inform how we scout and sign players, and I understand how coaches think. That synergy can be an advantage.” Augsburg may only draw about 30,000 fans to the WWK Arena—respectable, but modest by Bundesliga standards.
Still, the club is punching above its weight. “What makes us unique is stability,” Weber asserts.
Stability isn’t glamorous, but it provides a platform for continual improvement. “We want to be seen as a club that develops talent, that has a strong link to its youth academy, and that offers players a clear pathway.” Recent transfer activity reflects that philosophy. Rodrigo Ribeiro’s loan from Sporting CP was made permanent after a promising season, while Hennes Behrens arrived from Hoffenheim and Sima Suso joined from Fortuna Düsseldorf.
All three are 21‑year‑olds, underscoring Augsburg’s commitment to nurturing young prospects. Looking ahead, Weber is realistic yet ambitious.
“You don’t have to be crazy, but you need to dream and have a vision,” he says. He points to English examples like Sunderland’s resurgence and Brentford’s rise as models of clubs that have rewritten their narratives. “Maybe Augsburg can become that story in Germany.” The formula, according to Weber, is simple: work ethic, character, and a collective hunger to hunt success together.
“If you have those ingredients, you can bring out the best in yourself and in the team. Step by step, we can climb higher.” Reflecting on his journey, Weber feels confident that his choices have been sound.
“In the end, I have the feeling it was a good decision.”