Sandro Wagner has FC Basel in his sights – coach on the shortlist

The traditional club FC Basel from Switzerland has, according to a report, set its sights on the 38‑year‑old former Bundesliga coach Sandro Wagner and listed him as a possible successor to Stephan Lichtsteiner. Wagner, who most recently coached FC Augsburg, would thus be in his first stint abroad.

Basel after weak run seeks new coach

The club from Switzerland has recorded only three wins in the first seven matchdays of the Super League and has collected just one point in the last three league games. After the 1‑3 loss to FC Lugano on Wednesday, former Swiss international Stephan Lichtsteiner, who had been in charge for only seven and a half months, was dismissed; Luigi Nocentini has taken over on an interim basis since then.

Wagner's record at Augsburg

From the 14 Bundesliga matches, the 38‑year‑old coach earned only 0.83 points per game. FC Augsburg had to release him in early December 2025 after he had collected merely seven points in eleven games of the 2025/26 season and, after a 0‑3 defeat on the twelfth matchday against FC Hoffenheim, took responsibility.

Before his spell at Augsburg, Wagner was assistant to the then national team coach Julian Nagelsmann and had already guided SpVgg Unterhaching to promotion to the 3. Liga in 2023 as head coach. In August 2025 he led FC Augsburg to an impressive opening‑day victory over SC Freiburg (3‑1). He was also co‑coach of the German U20 and senior national teams, most recently alongside Nagelsmann during the home Euro 2024, where the team reached the quarter‑finals.

A report confirms that Wagner is considered a favorite for Basel and that the Swiss side is now scrutinising him intensively. Wagner could give the club new impetus if he takes over from Lichtsteiner.