Jess Thorup: Who is the Augsburg head coach?
He has proven his ability to win trophies in his home country and now hopes to make a similar impact in the Bundesliga, but who is the Danish tactician in the Augsburg dugout? bundesliga.com profiles Jess Thorup...
Stats correct as of 30 August 2024
Age: 54 (born 21 February, 1970)
Club: FC Augsburg
Role: Head coach
Country: Denmark
Key stats
Thorup joined Augsburg in October 2023 with the side sat in 15th place, having won just one of their first seven games. The 54-year-old kicked off his tenure with a six-game unbeaten run, and ultimately led the side to a comfortable 11th-placed finish.
Thorup's encouraing start is a continuation of his fine work in his native Denmark. Beginning at Esbjerg, where he hung up his boots following a playing career spanning 20 years, the former striker worked as assistant coach for five years before taking the first-team reins. In just his second season at the helm, he steered the club to the Danish Cup.
The Danish Football Association took note of Thorup's success, appointing him as Denmark U21s head coach in July 2023. He returned to club management two years later, winning the 2019/20 Danish Superliga with Midtjylland. Following an 87-game stint at Belgian side Gent, Thorup headed home to repeat the title-winning trick in charge of Copenhagen.
Coaches a bit like: Thomas Frank
Just like fellow Dane and current Brentford boss Thomas Frank, Thorup likes his teams to play attractive, attacking football whilst also making sure to develop young talent where he can. While Thorup was chosen to manage Denmark’s U21 side, Frank was managing the country’s U17 and U19 sides before making his first step into senior club management with Brondby.
Did you know?
While at Uerdingen in his playing days, Thorup lined up alongside Lars Müller, a UEFA Champions League winner and two-time Bundesliga champion with Borussia Dortmund. The two played together between 1996 and 1998 when Uerdingen, now of Germany's fourth tier, were in Bundesliga 2.
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What they're saying
"We are delighted that we have been able to recruit Jess, who has been a head coach at the highest level for many years and has a lot of experience at national and international level. Jess has proven in his previous positions that he can both develop players and lead teams to success." - Augsburg sporting director Marinko Jurendic
"He has proven himself as a top coach in both Denmark and Belgium and thus comes with a rare combination of international experience and capacity. He is a well-recognised and deeply respected coach who has proven himself no matter what club or league he has coached in." - former Copenhagen board member William Kvist
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