Bayern Munich Alumni: Sandro Wagner becomes head coach of SpVgg Unterhaching

Former Bayern Munich player Sandro Wagner has his first ever senior coaching job, quite sooner than many expected.

The Munich native has taken over at SpVgg Unterhaching as their new head coach after the club was relegated from the 3. Liga to the Regionalliga, replacing Arie van Lent. Wagner is now tasked with bringing the club back into professional football.

Wagner was originally brought in to coach Unterhaching’s U-19 team, and is still technically at the helm of the juniors, who are currently in the midst of a promotion playoff to the A-Junioren Bundesliga. Wagner sat on the bench while his team won 2-0 in the first leg against 1. FC Schweinfurt. The second leg is scheduled for Sunday.

“In the past few months I have had a lot of time to get to know the club better and I feel very much at home here. The opportunity to take over the first team as a coach makes me proud, and I am very grateful for the great trust the club management has shown,” said Wagner.

Unterhaching president Manfred Schwabl did not waste words in praising Wagner, saying: “During his time as a U-19 coach, he proved in just a few months that he has tremendous quality on the sidelines and that he is a perfect fit for us as a person. His undisputed experience as a player, his leadership qualities and the very good discussions with Sandro convinced us that he is exactly the right person for the Spielvereinigung.”

It is indeed impressive that Wagner landed himself a coaching gig so soon, especially considering he called it quits on his playing career just a year ago. As a player, Wagner played for the likes of Werder Bremen, Hertha BSC, MSV Duisburg, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Darmstadt 98, TSG Hoffenheim, and Bayern Munich before ending his career in China. At 33 years of age, he is still very young for a coach, even younger than incoming Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann.

We at BFW hope that Wagner enjoys enough success to carry him through the ranks of the Bundesliga. Who knows, maybe he could coach his old Bayern team one day!