Baum to stay as interim Augsburg coach until the end of the season

Manuel Baum will stay in interim charge of Augsburg until the end of the season, the Bundesliga side said on Tuesday.

Baum, who is normally head of development and innovation at the Bavarian club, initially stepped up for the final three games of the year following Sandro Wagner's sacking.

But four points from three games, including beating 2024 champions Bayer Leverkusen, has led the club to ask him to stay on as coach despite him previously expressing a wish to go back to his old role.

That will now happen at the end of the campaign in May unless there is another change in circumstances.

"We are convinced that Manuel Baum is exactly the right choice for Augsburg in this current situation," managing director Michael Ströll said in a statement.

Baum was previously Augsburg coach 2016-19 before stints with Germany youth teams and an ill-fated spell at Schalke.

"Working with the team has been a pleasure and I'm happy to stay as coach for a bit longer," Baum said. "It is important for me to be able to go back to my original job. Until then we will do everything after the winter break to have a successful season."

Augsburg reconvene after a short Bundesliga mid-season break at Borussia Mönchengladbach on January 11.

They sit one spot and two points above the relegation play-off place.