Coach Blessin and FC St. Pauli are going their separate ways

AUDIO: FC St. Pauli and Blessin part ways (1 min)

The second division club confirmed the separation on Thursday evening. “Alex’s qualities as a coach are undisputed, but after our analysis we have come to the conclusion that a separation and a fresh start with full conviction is the right way to go this summer,” said St. Pauli’s sports director Andreas Bornemann, explaining the separation. A successor for the Stuttgart native has not yet been determined. It should be presented “promptly”.

This ends a three-week hangout. After the 1:3 defeat in the last game of the season against VfL Wolfsburg and the associated relegation, St. Pauli actually announced that they would clarify the coaching question in a few days. But the talks dragged on, but neither side found a common basis for further work.

The “Kiezkicker” coach wants to give himself some time after relegation to the Bundesliga to decide whether he will stay or go.

Good first season, bad second season under Blessin

The 53-year-old moved to Millerntor from the Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise in 2024. He followed promoted coach Fabian Hürzeler at St. Pauli, who was drawn to the English Premier League. Under Blessin, Hamburg managed to stay in the league in the first season. The Hanseatic League impressed with excellent defensive performances. In the past season, the neighborhood club was no longer able to build on these performances.

After a good start with seven points from the first three games, a downward trend began, which resulted in nine bankruptcies in a row. In the meantime, Blessin managed to stabilize the team somewhat. But because there was not a single win in the last ten games of the season, the neighborhood club was relegated from bottom of the table.

Rapp was considered his successor

It is unclear who will follow Blessin, who still has a contract until 2027. Possible candidates would be former Werder Bremen coach Horst Steffen or Marcel Rapp, who is considered the favorite for the position by Hamburg media. Rapp has proven at Holstein Kiel that he can successfully carry out development work. The same will be necessary at Millerntor after the relegation and the departure of some top performers.

FC St. Pauli has been relegated from the Bundesliga. The failure is the result of discouraged football – and the inaction of the club management.

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