St. Pauli brings in coach Blessin as Hürzeler's successor

Bundesliga - St. Pauli brings in coach Blessin as Hürzeler's successor

Football-Bundesliga team FC St. Pauli has found the successor for promotion trainer Fabian Hürzeler. The Hamburg club signed Alexander Blessin on Thursday. The 51-year-old was under contract with Belgian Pokal winner and vice-champion Royal Union St. Gilloise in the previous season. Blessin will be presented at a press conference in the afternoon. The preparation of FC St. Pauli for the new season starts on July 8.

"With Alexander Blessin, we were able to win an experienced trainer for FC St. Pauli. He brings a lot of tactical knowledge and has already worked in the highest league and internationally in Belgium and Italy," St. Pauli's sporting director Andreas Bornemann was quoted in a press release from the club. There were initially no announcements regarding the transfer fee and the duration of the contract.

The new coach is looking forward to his task with the Kiezkickers: "FC St. Pauli has an incredible pull in Germany, but also internationally. The club stands for clear values and ambitious work in professional football. Therefore, it is a great challenge to train the club after its long time in the second league in the Bundesliga."

FC St. Pauli was looking for a new head coach since the departure of successful trainer Hürzeler to Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League to lead the team into the first Bundesliga season after 13 years. Since Blessin still had a contract until 2025 with the Belgians, FC St. Pauli is likely to have to pay a transfer fee. For the departure of Hürzeler, the club had also paid. Blessin was active as a player in his birthplace Stuttgart for VfB and Kickers, as well as for Jahn Regensburg, VfB Leipzig and Sportfreunde Siegen, and Antalyaspor in Turkey, scoring goals. As a trainer, he worked from 2012 to 2020 in the youth sector at RB Leipzig. He came to KV Oostende and Genua CFC in 2023. FC St. Pauli is the first head coaching station in German professional football for Blessin.

Blessing will approach the first Bundesliga season of the Hamburgers after 13 years in the second league "with unity in the team and the entire club": "I am incredibly excited to challenge the big clubs of the Bundesliga at the Millerntor."

Table of FC St. Pauli squad

1. The Bundesliga team FC St. Pauli has appointed Alexander Blessin as the successor to Fabian Hürzeler, who left for Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League.
2. Blessin, who was previously under contract with Belgian Pokal winner and vice-champion Royal Union St. Gilloise, will be presented at a press conference.
3. According to St. Pauli's sporting director Andreas Bornemann, Blessin brings a lot of tactical knowledge and has worked in the highest league and internationally in Belgium and Italy.
4. The new coach is looking forward to his task with the Kiezkickers, stating that FC St. Pauli has an incredible pull in Germany and internationally.
5. As a player, Blessin has represented teams like VfB Stuttgart, Kickers, Jahn Regensburg, VfB Leipzig, Sportfreunde Siegen, and Antalyaspor in Turkey.
6. Blessin's first head coaching station in German professional football will be with FC St. Pauli, and he plans to approach the first Bundesliga season after 13 years in the second league "with unity in the team and the entire club."
7. The preparation for FC St. Pauli's new Bundesliga season starts on July 8.

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