FC St. Pauli Parts Ways With Coach Alexander Blessin After Relegation

FC St. Pauli faces a new beginning without head coach Alexander Blessin after their Bundesliga relegation. Reports indicate that Blessin and the club's management could not agree on a future sporting direction, leading to his departure. Blessin, who joined the club in summer 2024 from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise, had a contract until 2027. He initially guided the team to avoid relegation in his first season, succeeding promotion-winning coach Fabian Hürzeler. However, the team's performance declined significantly in the past season, resulting in their last-place finish and demotion. The club's decision to part ways with Blessin had been anticipated in recent days. Blessin himself requested time to consider his future after the season concluded. His apparent hesitation to commit to the club nearly three weeks after relegation reportedly fueled doubts among the management about a shared future. Media outlets suggest Marcel Rapp, 47, is the leading candidate to take over the Hamburg-based club. Rapp previously coached Holstein Kiel from October 2021 to February 2026, leading them to the Bundesliga in 2024. He remained with the club after their immediate relegation but was dismissed when the team faced a potential drop to the third division in the following season.