FC St. Pauli Ends Cooperation with Head Coach Alexander Blessin Amid Relegation

FC St. Pauli has officially parted ways with head coach Alexander Blessin following the club’s relegation from the Bundesliga. The decision came after disagreements between Blessin and the club’s management over the future direction. Blessin, who took over the team in 2024 from Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise, initially succeeded in securing the team’s Bundesliga status in his first season. However, the most recent season saw St. Pauli finish last, resulting in relegation and prompting the club to seek new leadership. Prior to the split, Blessin requested time to consider his role at St. Pauli, but his hesitance regarding the club’s future plans reportedly caused concern among the management.

Marcel Rapp is expected to replace Blessin as head coach. Rapp previously guided Holstein Kiel to Bundesliga promotion in 2024 before also facing relegation with the club. His appointment signals St. Pauli’s intent to rebuild strategically in the 2. Bundesliga following their demotion. The club aims to establish a shared vision moving forward in hopes of returning to the top flight.

This change marks a significant restructuring at FC St. Pauli after a challenging season, with the club now preparing to start anew under new management.