FC Augsburg

Mads Pedersen wasn’t present, as he had to have an operation on his ankle after injuring it in FCA’s last game of 2023. Tomáš Koubek has also had elbow surgery. Over the coming days, both will do rehabilitative work, as well as individual training, before they’re integrated back into the team. Irvin Cardona was also allowed to miss out on the training session to enter contract talks with another club, while Frederik Winther was ill.

Winter had fully arrived in Augsburg by the start of December. FCA’s Sunday evening game against Eintracht Frankfurt was in doubt for a long time, but the training pitch and the stadium were cleared of snow as the FCA family came together to tackle the situation, meaning that it was possible for matchday 13 to take place. As a reward for their dedication, FCA’s players warmed the fans up in -13°C conditions with a positive performance, defeating Eintracht 2-1 through goals from Fredrik Jensen and Iago, whilst also avoiding defeat for the sixth consecutive game.   

We have been taking a look back on the year that was in our daily Year in Review series, with articles on all of the most memorable moments from the last 12 months:

FC Augsburg were in action away in Cologne on matchday 10. Thorup’s side initially went behind again, but Phillip Tietz equalised with his third goal in three games and secured a 1-1 draw for FCA (25’). It was Jess Thorup’s first draw in charge of FC Augsburg following two back-to-back wins. 

FCA travelled to SC Freiburg on the first weekend in October. The Fuggerstädter lost 2-0 there and were made to continue to wait for the first points of the season away from home. SV Darmstadt 98 were the visitors on matchday 7 and the newly-promoted side condemned FCA to their first home defeat of the season (2-1 loss). FCA’s revival came too late and Demirović’s consolation goal wasn’t enough to secure the home side their minimum target of a draw. 

FCA were once again busy shortly before the end of the transfer window, strengthening their squad with the signings of Kevin Mbabu (on loan from Fulham FC) and Japhet Tanganga (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur). 

What does FC Augsburg stand for? Around 4,000 members of the FCA family spent the preceding months and years trying to answer this question, and from it created FC Augsburg’s new brand, based on guiding principles and intrinsic values: the 07-Werte. This new brand also included a new visual style, which was clearly based on the club colours and had a uniquely developed pattern with a distinctive design.

After the home and third kits had already been revealed at the end of July, the new away kit, which was first presented at the Augsburger Friedensfest on the anniversary of FC Augsburg’s founding, completed the collection of jerseys from our new supplier Mizuno.

FC Augsburg began their preseason training for the 2023/24 campaign at the beginning of July, which started with a number of internal performance tests before the boys returned to the pitch. A new midfielder came on the scene in the form of Masaya Okugawa, who signed for FCA on a free transfer in the summer. Ricardo Pepi, who was sent out on loan to FC Groningen last season, remained in the Eredivisie after transferring to PSV Eindhoven. 

While the boys bid farewell to their much-deserved summer break, it would be a busy month for FC Augsburg’s board, because ultimately, the end of the club’s 12th Bundesliga season signals the beginning of the 13th. As a result, FCA directed their focus towards the upcoming campaign and were active over the transfer period. Goalkeeper Finn Dahmen made his way to the Fuggerstadt, and 19-year-old shot-stopper Marcel Łubik signed a professional contract with the club after a spell with the U23s. Defender Patric Pfeiffer also came to Augsburg in June on a free transfer from Darmstadt.   

FC Ausgburg took on 1. FC Union Berlin at the WWK ARENA on matchday 31. FCA picked up important points in the relegation battle in their penultimate home game of the season thanks to Dion Beljo, who scored the only goal of the game.