Sports director Marinko Jurendic had just listed the advantages of the new Augsburg coach when he apologized at the beginning of his introduction on Monday afternoon. Jess Thorup asked for leniency because he might have to make do with English if he tried to speak German. A good 40 minutes later, the 53-year-old Dane had left some memorable sentences. He only changed languages once.
“I love developing young players. But we also have to say: If we want to develop young players, we also have to have experienced players on the pitch,” Thorup said. He spoke about his “offensive mindset” and the club’s desire to establish itself in the top ten of the Bundesliga in the medium term. “For me it’s not important whether the club is at the top or bottom of the table. For me the potential is important. I see that at FC Augsburg,” said Thorup. He later sketched a picture of himself: “I want everyone on the boat with me. But I know that I’m standing at the front and showing the direction.” Thorup also talked about his two children and his marriage; it was the happiest moment. He said: “I have a wife – now I have to be careful what I say – for many years.”
If the first impression, the eulogies of Jurendic and Thorup’s vita are not deceiving, then Augsburg’s new coach is like the former advertising slogan of the state of Baden-Württemberg, in which Thorup will play next Sunday in the game against newly promoted and tenth-placed 1. FC Heidenheim will make his debut. In the southwest of Germany and therefore also on the Ostalb, they say they can do everything. Except High German. Thorup’s slogan could perhaps be: He can do pretty much everything and is very experienced. Except in the relegation battle. At FC Augsburg they don’t see this as a flaw. Thorup meets her requirements profile as a trainer, person and personality, said Jurendic. “There are no guarantees for anything. But I think this is a very good basis on which we have come together.”
When you look at Thorup’s career, it becomes clear what the Augsburgers are pinning their hopes on. This includes his extensive experience as a coach from more than 400 games in professional football, as well as his natural authority, which is intended to have an impact on the many young players in the FCA squad. He should also live up to his reputation for being able to support and advance young players. Those were important criteria, said Jurendic. These confessions indicated what the people of Augsburg had recently missed with Enrico Maaßen, 39, who was on leave.
The surprise success earned Thorup the award as Denmark’s Coach of the Year
However, former striker Thorup (including KFC Uerdingen) is less experienced in the basement of the league. He only came into contact with the relegation battle at the beginning of his coaching career. After he was promoted from assistant to head coach at Esbjerg fB, he missed out on relegation. Thorup managed to immediately return to Denmark’s first league in 2012, and in 2013 he even won the Danish Cup. The surprise success also earned him the award as Denmark’s Coach of the Year. After the cup coup with Esbjerg, Thorup moved to the football association of his home country, for which he looked after the U21 national team, among other things, and with whom he was only eliminated in the semi-finals of the 2015 European Championship.
He later became champions in Denmark with FC Midtjylland in 2018, as well as with FC Copenhagen in 2022. In between, Thorup worked in Belgium, first at KAA Gent, with whom he also played internationally, then at KRC Genk. Thorup has been unemployed since his dismissal in Copenhagen just over a year ago. “Now I’m hungry again,” said Thorup. He wants to stand at the front of the boat again and give direction. If necessary, also in English.