January: Return to action
2024 Year in Review, part 1
First Team
25.12.2024, 09:07
Another year is coming to an end: 12 eventful months of both highs and lows, along with plenty of memorable moments for FC Augsburg. It's time to once more reflect on the past 365 days. In part one of FCA's Year in Review, we look back on January.
Winter training: A shortened winter break saw the players given individual training programmes to help them keep fit over the holidays, before returning to training in early January. To help the team get back into the rhythm of things before their return to competitive action against league leaders Leverkusen, FCA played a friendly against TSG Hoffenheim. The match ended in a 1-0 win for Jess Thorup's side.
League action: FCA looked to be on the brink of taking a point off Bayer Leverkusen, but conceded in injury time of a narrow 1-0 defeat. The result saw FCA end the first half of the 2023/24 season in 12th place with 18 points.
Their first game of the second half of the campaign saw them travel to Mönchengladbach. Goals from Phillip Tietz and Arne Engels helped Thorup's side fight back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 away at the Foals.
Matchday 19 then saw the WWK ARENA welcome a sold-out crowd as FCA hosted FC Bayern München. Unfortunately for the hosts, not even a brace from captain Ermedin Demirović could prevent them from falling to a close 3-2 defeat against the record champions.
Transfer news: The start of the new year also marked the start of the winter transfer window. Irvin Cardona did not return to train with the team in January, instead joining AS Saint-Étienne on loan until the end of the season. Nathanaël Mbuku also joined the French second-division side on loan in the hopes of earning more playing time.
FCA secured the services of midfielder Kristijan Jakić, who joined the team on loan with an option to buy from fellow Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt. The club also agreed to an early contract extension with Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, who put pen to paper to a new deal dated 30th June 2025, with the option to extend for an additional season.
Off the pitch: "Our colours, your design" was the name of the shirt contest put on by FC Augsburg and supplier Mizuno in January. Fans had the chance to submit a virtual design in the hopes of having their artwork chosen to be on the club's home shirt for the 2025/26 season.
