German club Augsburg sack trainer after just five months

German football club Augsburg parted ways with trainer Sandro Wagner on Monday, ending a brief and disappointing tenure for the former German national team assistant.

Wagner, 38, lasted just five months at Augsburg, which is languishing in 14th in the Bundesliga with just 10 points in a dozen matches.

Following Saturday's 0-3 loss to Hoffenheim, "we realised that the belief and conviction to turn things around with our current setup were no longer there", Augsburg managing director Michael Stroell said.

Under Wagner, Augsburg have made their worst start to a season since 2011. They also suffered an embarrassing exit in the German Cup to second-division Bochum.

Manuel Baum, who previously coached the club from 2016 to 2019, will take over on an interim basis until the winter break.

Wagner, who had signed a contract over the summer that runs through 2028, expressed disappointment at the decision in a statement announcing his departure "by mutual agreement".

Wagner, a former striker who once played for Bayern Munich, tried to bring an aggressive attacking style to Augsburg.

But the club's defence has been abysmal, conceding the most goals in the Bundesliga.