Christian Fuchs

Christian Fuchs (; born 7 April 1986) is an Austrian football manager and former player who was most recently manager of EFL League Two club Newport County. A left back, Fuchs was part of the Leicester City 2015–16 Premier League winning squad and captained the Austria national team at UEFA Euro 2016.

He began his senior career as a teenager at Wiener Neustadt before signing his first professional contract at 17 with SV Mattersburg, challenging for the Austrian Football Bundesliga title and taking part in European competitions. In 2008, he left for Germany, signing for VfL Bochum. After a season on loan at Mainz 05, he signed for Schalke 04 in 2011, where he contested the UEFA Champions League but suffered a serious knee injury. In June 2015, he signed for Leicester, winning the Premier League in his first season at the club. After leaving Leicester in June 2021, he spent one season in the MLS with Charlotte FC, before retiring from professional football in January 2023.

A full international from 2006 to 2016, Fuchs earned 78 caps for Austria. He represented the nation at the UEFA Euro 2008, and the UEFA Euro 2016, captaining them for the first time in 2010 and on a permanent basis from 2012, before retiring from international duty in 2016.

Club career Early career Born in Neunkirchen, Lower Austria, his father was an amateur goalkeeper. He began as a forward at local team SVg Pitten before moving to 1. Wiener Neustädter SC at the age of 14. At the age of 15, while still an amateur and at mainstream school, Fuchs played for their senior team. When he was 17, he signed his first professional deal at SV Mattersburg, a team who despite coming from a town of 6,000 drew league record average crowds of 17,000, came third in the Austrian Football Bundesliga and played in European competition. He later described it as a useful move to play regularly while attracting attention from bigger teams. The transfer fee was reportedly undisclosed by Schalke's sport and communications manager Horst Heldt. Signed under previous manager Nigel Pearson, Fuchs didn't have a regular spot in new manager Claudio Ranieri's squad until October. Fuchs made an appearance in Leicester's third round League Cup tie against West Ham, providing an assist for Andy King's extra time winner. Following a 5–2 loss to Arsenal on 26 September, Ranieri elected to shake up his defensive back four, inserting Fuchs and teammate Danny Simpson in place of Jeffrey Schlupp and Ritchie De Laet respectively. Fuchs made his first Premier League start the next week against Norwich City.

In his first season, Leicester finished as champions on odds of 5,000–1, making Fuchs the first Austrian to receive a Premier League winners' medal since Arsenal's Alex Manninger in 1998. Following the insertion of Fuchs into the lineup on Matchday 8, Leicester City led the Premier League in clean sheets along with Arsenal, with 15. Fuchs himself led the league during this period in successful tackles with 77, while finishing second in interceptions with 98.

Prior to signing for Leicester, Fuchs had an offer to play in the United States, where his family live, but he turned it down. He had said in March 2016, "My intention is to play in the US. I have come [to Leicester] for three years. I decided that I would sign one last contract in Europe, when I left Schalke, then go to the US." The next day, Fuchs scored his first goal for Leicester against Crystal Palace, volleying home a corner-kick clearance by Christian Benteke for the team's final goal in a 3–1 victory.

On 8 May 2019, Fuchs signed a new one-year contract with Leicester.

On 18 June 2020, Leicester announced that they had triggered a one-year contract extension for Fuchs.

On 21 May 2021, Leicester announced that Fuchs would leave the club at the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2020–21 season.

Charlotte FC On 7 June 2021, it was announced that Fuchs would join Major League Soccer expansion side Charlotte FC. On 27 July 2021, With Charlotte due to play MLS from the 2022 season, Fuchs joined USL Championship side Charlotte Independence for the remainder of 2021. After playing as a regular with Charlotte in their expansion season, Fuchs announced on 5 January 2023 he would be retiring from professional football.

FSA Pro In November 2023, Fuchs appeared in the playoffs for FSA Pro, the United Premier Soccer League side of Fox Soccer Academy, which Fuchs owns and runs.

International career

Fuchs made his debut for the Austria national team on 23 May 2006 in a friendly match against Croatia, replacing Stefan Lexa for the final six minutes of the 4–1 loss at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna.

He was part of the Austrian international squad as they co-hosted UEFA Euro 2008 alongside Switzerland. He made only one appearance in the group stage elimination, playing the entirety of the 1–0 loss to Germany in their last match of the tournament.

On 11 August 2010, in the absence of regular captain Marc Janko, Fuchs captained his nation for the first time in a 1–0 friendly loss to the Swiss in Klagenfurt. That 17 November, he scored his first international goal, equalising in a 2–1 home friendly loss to Greece.

Fuchs received the armband on a permanent basis at the behest of manager Marcel Koller on 13 August 2012. He played all ten games as they qualified for the UEFA Euro 2016, the first time they did so, and featured in every minute of the group stage elimination in France. Afterwards, he retired from international football with a total of 78 caps, declaring "I am very proud of the 10 years that I have spent with the national team. I did everything with passion and, as I said, I am very, very proud."

Coaching career After retiring from professional football, Fuchs stayed at Charlotte FC and was appointed as an assistant coach under Christian Lattanzio on 6 January 2023.

On 20 November 2025, Fuchs secured his first management position on being appointed by EFL League Two side Newport County after the dismissal of previous manager David Hughes with Newport bottom of League Two on 11 points after 16 league games of the 2025-26 season. A 2-1 win at Barrow on the final day of the season ensured that Newport finished 20th in League Two and avoided relegation. On 27 June 2026, Fuchs resigned as Newport County manager.

Personal life

Fuchs' wife, Raluca Gold-Fuchs, with whom he has a stepson, son, and daughter, is a businesswoman based in New York, formerly of Goldman Sachs. He runs a public relations company and a football academy in New York, and in 2016 he stated he planned to move there permanently after his football career.

The Leicester Mercury described Fuchs as "not your stereotypical footballer...[he] has more strings to his bow than an orchestra".

In 2016 he stated his desire to become an NFL placekicker and demonstrated his skills on the BBC's NFL coverage.

In June 2026, Fuchs began playing local cricket in Derbyshire.

Career statistics Club

International

Scores and results list Austria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fuchs goal. + List of international goals scored by Christian Fuchs

Honours Schalke 04 DFL-Supercup: 2011

Leicester City Premier League: 2015–16 FA Cup: 2020–21

Austria U17 UEFA European Under-17 Championship third place: 2003

Individual kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2010–11, 2011–12