President and coach step down
Augsburg rejects reports of “blackmail”.
May 16, 2022, 3:18 p.m
Health reasons, says Klaus Hofmann, are causing his resignation as President of FC Augsburg. A few days later, coach Markus Weinzierl gave up. Now there are reports of intrigues in the Bundesliga soccer team. The club defends itself against this “clearly and clearly”.
Stefan Reuter and Klaus Hofmann have rejected media reports that the manager had forced the resignation of the president of Bundesliga soccer club FC Augsburg. Hofmann explained his sudden departure from the Swabians again with health problems, sports director Reuter and co-managing director Michael Ströll called it “worrying when such misinformation is spread”.
On Sunday evening, the “Bild” first reported online, then on Monday in its print edition of the Augsburg “intrigue box”. There was talk of “blackmail” in connection with Hofmann’s resignation, Reuter was portrayed as the bad boy of a “smear theater”. The FCA contradicted “clearly and clearly”.
The head of the supervisory board of the Bundesliga soccer club, Thomas Müller, explained: “Last Thursday, Klaus Hofmann resigned from his positions in relation to both the management and the committees and justified this solely with health problems. There are no other reasons than these, why all of us It is our duty to accept it.” The 54-year-old will “remain closely connected to FCA as managing director and shareholder of Hofmann Investors GmbH, which we are very happy about,” said Müller.
Weinzierl indicates a broken relationship
Hofmann emphasized that he had “repeatedly heard clear and increasing stress signals from my body over the past few weeks and months”. He therefore realized that he could no longer properly carry out his dual function as an entrepreneur and FCA boss. “My resignation has nothing to do with allegedly hacked messages or other speculation, only the health reasons I mentioned,” he emphasized. Reuter and Ströll added: “Especially when it comes to health, Klaus Hofmann’s desire for privacy must be respected without any ifs or buts.”
Nevertheless, the “kicker” also sees a “widespread fire” in the Swabians, as Hofmann and coach Markus Weinzierl resigned. This indicated a broken relationship with Manager Reuter. So far there have been no talks with FCA, “and I won’t have any more,” Weinzierl said immediately after the 2-1 (1-1) win at the end of the season against SpVgg Greuther Fürth.
The fact that Reuter waited so long was “a clear sign”, emphasized the 47-year-old, who spoke of “a lack of appreciation”. “The basis was missing. I’ve come to the realization that it’s the best for me”. FCA can now “attack again with a new coach”.