Is Fuchs right man to guide Newport to safety?

Former Leicester City defender Christian Fuchs has been tasked with keeping Newport County in League Two

Newport County are a club well familiar with great escapes and giant killings.

Newly-appointed Exiles manager Christian Fuchs is all-too familiar with the latter, as his Leicester City side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Newport at Rodney Parade back in 2019.

But now stepping into his first senior management role, Fuchs will need to write the latest chapter in Newport's survival exploits.

Should the 39-year-old fail, the club will find themselves playing National League football for the first time in 13 years.

It is a daunting task, with County currently five points from safety at the bottom of League Two.

So the question is simple: is Fuchs the right man to guide Newport to safety?

From Neunkirchen to Newport

As a player, Fuchs had a highly successful career, winning silverware in Germany and England.

Born in Neunkirchen, Austria, Fuchs began his career playing for Wiener Neustadt, 15km away from his hometown.

After making his professional debut in 2002, Fuchs was signed by Austrian Bundesliga side SV Mattersburg.

He made 13 league appearances in his first top-flight season, before becoming a permanent feature for the club at left back.

Fuchs' performances in Austria caught the attention of those over the border in Germany.

VfL Bochum signed Fuchs ahead of the 2008-09 season, and he spent two seasons there before a loan spell to Mainz.

There, Fuchs helped Mainz to a fifth-place top-flight finish, keeping eight clean sheets and providing eight assists in a campaign which saw him named in the Bundesliga's team of the season.

Fuchs' eye-catching season earned him a transfer to Schalke for an undisclosed fee, and on his debut helped the club beat Borussia Dortmund to win the DFL-Supercup - Germany's equivalent of the Charity Shield.

The 2011 DFL-Supercup was Christian Fuchs' (left) first major silverware

After four seasons with Schalke, Leicester City came calling - and with it a chance to play in the Premier League.

"It was always a goal for me to play in the Premier League, and I'm happy that this dream has come true," Fuchs said at the time.

And if the transfer itself felt like a dream, what followed for Fuchs and Leicester will forever be talked about as one of football's greatest shocks.

The Foxes stunned the footballing world in Fuchs' first season with the club, as Leicester City were crowned Premier League champions despite carrying 5,000-1 odds to begin the campaign.

In the process, Fuchs became the first Austrian player to win the Premier League since Alex Manninger in 1998 for Arsenal.

Fuchs would also lift the FA Cup with Leicester in the 2020-21 season, before finishing his playing career with Charlotte FC of the Major Soccer League (MLS) in the United States.

For his country, Austria, Fuchs won 78 caps over the course of a decade, scoring one goal in a friendly against Greece.

Fuchs was named captain of his country in 2012, and helped guide Austria to a first European Championship qualification for the 2016 tournament in France.

Following his retirement from playing in January 2023, Fuchs remained with Charlotte FC as the club's assistant coach, where he worked under Dean Smith before being named Newport County boss.

Lack of experience argument 'invalid' - Fuchs

Fuchs had a spring in his step as he spoke to the media for the first time as Newport manager.

Clearly relishing the opportunity of stepping into management for the first time, he did not entertain the idea that his lack of experience as a coach meant he was not suited to the role.

"When a new coach comes in, and has no experience... that [argument] is invalid to me," said Fuchs.

"I have a clear idea of how I want to play, I know that right now is not the time for experimenting, it is about the basics.

"We have started to put the basics in place, we will continue working on them for quite some time and once I'm happy with them we can look forward.

"Right now we need to build the confidence."

Fuchs may not have any experience coaching in Wales or England, but he has an extensive network built up during his playing career.

Asked if he will be reaching out to former team-mates and coaches to help improve the Newport squad during the January transfer window, Fuchs said: "I will be, yes.

"Some of those people are already in a position where they can be helpful."

Fuchs has been given the managerial position on a "long-term deal", but insists he is not looking beyond the current campaign and ensuring Newport's status as a football league club.

"What does success look like right now? Staying in the league," said Fuchs.

"That's the whole focus right now, everything else is for year two and year three.

"Survival is the only focus now."

And while Fuchs is better known for his success in the top half of tables, he experienced a number of relegation scraps - including the 2009-10 season in which VfL Bochum were relegated from the Bundesliga.

"I know what a relegation battle looks like, very well," said Fuchs.

"We have a huge responsibility. Going into non-league football would have a huge impact not just on the football club, I am aware of that.

"The less the players know about it the better, they need to focus on what I need them to do.

"But I am very well aware of the impact this would have on an area."

Christian Fuchs played over 150 games during his time with Leicester City

Fuchs understands how to 'pull off the impossible'

Former Newport County defender Mark O'Brien knows first-hand what it takes to succeed in a relegation battle.

Back in the 2016-17 seasons, County were 11 points adrift of safety in March, but five wins from the final seven league games saw Newport survive.

The season went down to the final game, when O'Brien scored his first goal for Newport in the 89th minute to seal a 2-1 win over Notts County.

O'Brien says Fuchs' history of also pulling off seemingly impossible successes could be key for Newport.

"I think Fuchs has the potential to bring Newport out of this rut," said O'Brien.

"He comes from a very good background with very good changing rooms, he understands what it takes in terms of togetherness to pull off the impossible.

"He has the opportunity, but drastic changes need to happen in the squad.

"I just hope he can make enough of an impact before January, then hopefully change up the squad and pick up the results need to keep the club safe."

Former Newport County and Wales defender Jason Perry says the city "cannot afford" to see the club relegated to the National League.

"I never want to write a new manager off before he starts, but it is a tough ask," said Perry.

"He is a manager with little experience and at best limited knowledge of League Two, working with a squad of players picked by someone else.

"Could you understand the timing and reasons why the club brought [Graham] Coughlan in? Yes. Does this appointment look as well thought out and an obvious choice? No.

"Only time will tell and hopefully he will be a success, but we all agree on one thing - Newport County and the city of Newport cannot afford for this club to be relegated."

Analysis - Inexperience meets inexperience

Newport County lost 3-0 to Oldham in Christian Fuchs' first game in charge

Christian Fuchs becomes the fourth Newport County manager from the last five appointments to be given the job despite no senior managerial experience.

Fuchs follows David Hughes, Nelson Jardim and James Rowberry - with the only exception being Coughlan.

And while the continued lack of experience from the man at the helm is a concern for Newport fans, the task ahead would be a daunting one for the most seasoned of managers.

Like their new manager, the Newport squad is vastly inexperienced.

Back in August at Rodney Parade, all 10 outfield players started by County were younger than any of the MK Dons starting 11.

Despite David Hughes' repeated assurances that the Newport squad is good enough to compete and survive in League Two, with each passing game that appeared more optimistic than realistic.

In the short term, Fuchs' priority is to restore some confidence into a dejected squad and keep County competitive until the January transfer window opens, picking up as many points as possible in the six League Two games between now and then.

If Newport are to avoid relegation out of the football league, they will likely need to recruit well in January, whether that be with permanent transfers or loans.

Fuchs confirmed he was ready to tap into any and all relationships made during his playing and coaching career to lure players to Newport.

Fuchs should expect his mobile phone to be very busy this festive period, because right now, on the surface, Newport appear to only be heading in one worrying direction - down.