Daniel Baier

Daniel Baier (German pronunciation: [ˈdaːni̯eːl ˈbaɪɐ, -ni̯ɛl -]; born 18 May 1984) is a German former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.^[3]

Daniel Baier

Baier with Augsburg in 2017
Personal information
Date of birth	(1984-05-18) 18 May 1984 (age 41)
Place of birth	Cologne, West Germany
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1988–1992	Teutonia Obernau
1992–1998	TSV Mainaschaff
1998–1999	Viktoria Aschaffenburg
1999–2003	1860 Munich
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2007	1860 Munich	107	(3)
2007–2010	VfL Wolfsburg	16	(0)
2008	VfL Wolfsburg II	1	(1)
2008–2009	→ FC Augsburg (loan)	23	(1)
2010–2020	FC Augsburg	324	(8)
Total		470	(12)
International career
2003	Germany U19	2	(0)
2004	Germany U20	3[1]	(1)
2005	Germany U21	1[2]	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Baier is a legend of FC Augsberg who spent his entire career in Germany. Dieter Eilts has said about Baier: "Daniel is an individual talent. He plays a deadly passing game. If he continues in this way, he has a big future."

Career

Born in Cologne, Baier first played for the youth team of TSV 1860 Munich. He generally plays an offensive midfield role. He made his league debut against 1. FC Köln on 13 September 2003.

FC Augsburg

On 31 January 2010, he left VfL Wolfsburg and returned to FC Augsburg.^[4]

On 20 September 2017, Baier was fined €20,000 and suspended for one Bundesliga game, as he made a masturbation gesture at RB Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhüttl during the 1–0 victory against Leipzig the day before.^[5][6]

On 13 January 2020, Baier signed a one and a half year contract with the club.^[7]

After 355 competitive appearances for FC Augsburg, Baier was released by the club on 23 July 2020.^[8] He announced his retirement from professional football on 9 September 2020.^[9]

International career

He has played in the Germany national U20 team, his debut coming on 7 October 2005 against Wales.^[2]

Coaching career

On 16 January 2025, Baier was announced as Sports Coordinator with RB Leipzig, and will head the scouting, data and career departments. He had previously worked as a scout for FC Augsburg, VfL Wolfsburg, and FC Bayern Munich.^[10]

Personal life

His father Jürgen was also a footballer who played for Darmstadt 98.^[11] His brother Benjamin, who is also a midfielder, currently plays for Viktoria Aschaffenburg.

Career statistics

As of 23 July 2020^[12]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			DFB-Pokal		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1860 Munich	2003–04	Bundesliga	12	0	2	0	—		14	0
	2004–05	2. Bundesliga	30	1	2	0	—		32	1
	2005–06		31	0	4	0	—		35	0
	2006–07		34	2	1	0	—		35	2
	Total		107	3	9	0	—		116	3
VfL Wolfsburg	2007–08	Bundesliga	15	0	1	0	—		16	0
	2009–10		1	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
	Total		16	0	2	0	0	0	18	0
VfL Wolfsburg II	2008–09	Regionalliga Nord	1	1	—		—		1	1
FC Augsburg	2008–09 (loan)	2. Bundesliga	23	1	1	0	—		24	1
	2009–10		10	0	1	0	2[a]	0	13	0
	2010–11		17	1	2	0	—		19	1
	2011–12	Bundesliga	33	0	2	0	—		35	0
	2012–13		33	2	3	0	—		36	2
	2013–14		34	0	3	0	—		37	0
	2014–15		34	1	1	0	—		35	1
	2015–16		28	1	3	0	6[b]	0	37	1
	2016–17		27	1	2	0	—		29	1
	2017–18		29	0	1	0	—		30	0
	2018–19		33	0	3	0	—		36	0
	2019–20		23	1	1	0	—		24	1
	Total		324	8	23	0	8	0	355	8
Career total			449	12	34	0	8	0	490	12

1. Appearances in the 2. Bundesliga promotion play-offs
2. Appearances in the Europa League