Benjamin Weber often chuckles when people bring up Chelsea's 2021 Champions League triumph. "For sure," he says, recalling the moment he told Mason Mount to turn and deliver the pass that set up Kai Havertz for the solitary goal against Manchester City. That split‑second decision became part of football folklore, and Weber was there, working as an analyst for Thomas Tuchel at Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and later Chelsea.
He describes his time at Stamford Bridge as "the best period of my life" – a phrase that captures both the excitement of winning Europe’s premier club competition and the humility he feels about his contribution. "Winning that title was absolutely amazing. I don't want to make my part too small, nor too big," he reflects. When Tuchel left Chelsea for Bayern Munich, most of his staff followed, but Weber, now 43, chose a different route.
"When you fight for the Champions League and finally win it, what else is there to come? You always need an objective," he explains. His next step was a surprising one: he accepted the role of managing director at Paderborn, a club far removed from the glamour of London and Munich.
"I told Thomas it was tough," Weber admits, describing the emotional weight of leaving a winning environment for a modest side battling for survival. In 2025 Weber took on his current challenge as sporting director of FC Augsburg, a club that, while not a traditional powerhouse, has carved out a respectable niche in German football. Augsburg have now enjoyed 16 consecutive seasons in the Bundesliga – a feat matched by only six other clubs in the league.
Their recent history, however, had been modest at best. The 2024‑25 campaign, Weber's first full season, turned into a landmark achievement: Augsburg finished in the top half of the table for the first time in a decade.
That success came despite, or perhaps because of, a bold mid‑season coaching change. "It was very difficult and emotional," Weber says, recalling his own experience of sitting on the opposite side of the table as a player. "I know how it feels.
It would be easy to hide, but I am there to make decisions even if they are tough. We needed something different to get back on track." The club dismissed Sandro Wagner and promoted Manuel Baum, originally appointed as a temporary caretaker while still serving as director of development. Baum’s interim spell quickly turned into a permanent appointment after the team surged to ninth place, a remarkable turnaround given the upheaval of the summer transfer window.
Weber’s journey from the high‑pressure environments of Paris and London to the more intimate world of Augsburg has given him a fresh perspective on football management. "At the bigger clubs there was a lot of pressure," he notes, "but at a smaller club the pressure is personal – you have a family, you have a job that can disappear overnight if you sign the wrong player." At Augsburg his profile is higher than at Paderborn, and he acknowledges that the spotlight now follows him more closely.
"I was always a bit of a hidden figure 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." Weber believes his analytical background is an asset for Augsburg’s recruitment strategy.
"I have spent my whole life doing analysis. That can give us an advantage in scouting, and I understand how coaches think, which helps too," he says.
The club’s recent signings illustrate this philosophy: 21‑year‑old Rodrigo Ribeiro, initially on loan from Sporting CP, earned a permanent deal after a promising season; Hennes Behrens arrived from Hoffenheim; and Sima Suso was recruited from Fortuna Düsseldorf. All three are young, talented, and fit Augsburg’s ambition to become a hub for developing future stars.
Yet the question remains: how far can a club of Augsburg’s size realistically aim? Their WWK Arena regularly hosts around 30,000 fans – impressive, but modest compared with the league’s giants. Weber stresses that stability, rather than flashiness, is the club’s greatest strength. "What is unique is that we are stable," he says.
Stability does not mean stagnation; it means a continuous, incremental improvement that keeps the club moving forward without overreaching. The sporting director envisions Augsburg as a place where players love to come and grow. "We want this unique selling point – developing players and building a stronger link with the youth academy. That’s what we want the club to stand for," he explains.
By offering a clear pathway from academy to first team, Augsburg hopes to attract ambitious youngsters who see the club as a stepping stone to bigger stages. Weber also draws inspiration from other underdog stories in European football. "In England you have Sunderland, Brentford – clubs that defied expectations. Augsburg could become that story in Germany," he muses.
He believes that a blend of work ethic, character, and collective ambition can propel the team forward. "If you have the right mindset, you can hunt together and climb step by step," he adds.
Looking back, Weber feels confident that his decision to leave the glitter of Chelsea and take on a role at a smaller club was the right one. "In the end, I have the feeling it was a good decision," he concludes, smiling at the prospect of guiding Augsburg toward a future that, while perhaps not filled with Champions League finals, could still be rich with achievement, growth, and a proud identity for its supporters.