Blessin takes charge
Thursday, 27. June 2024, 11:00 Uhr
FC St. Pauli have a new head coach in Alexander Blessin, who moves to the Millerntor from Belgian cup winners and league runners-up Union Saint-Gilloise. The two clubs have agreed not to disclose any details of the transfer. Blessin has previously coached in Genoa, Ostend and in Leipzig's youth setup.
Blessin, 51, played as a striker for his hometwon clubs VfB Stuttgart and Stuttgarter Kickers as well as SSV Jahn Regensburg, VfB Leipzig, Sportfreunde Siegen and Antalyaspor, among others. After hanging up his boots, Blessin coached the Leipzig Under-17s and Under-19s before taking charge of Belgian club KV Oostende in 2020. He moved to Genoa CFC in 2022 and then Union Saint-Gilloise in 2023. The Belgian club won the cup and finished as league runners-up under Blessin and also competed in the Europa League and the Conference League. Next season Union Saint-Gilloise will begin their Champions League campaign in the third qualifying round.
Reaction to the deal
Director of sport Andreas Bornemann: "In Alexander Blessin we've been able to win a coach with international experience for FC St. Pauli. He possesses extensive tactical knowledge and has worked at the highest level in Belgium and Italy and on the European stage. He also knows exactly how to nurture young talent through to the senior level from his time in Leipzig. We're delighted he's opted to lead FC St. Pauli in the Bundesliga despite the prospect of Champions League football."
Alexander Blessin: "FC St. Pauli have incredible pulling power not only in Germany but also internationally. The club stands for clear values and ambitious work in professional sport, so coaching the team in the Bundesliga after a long time in the second division is a fantastic assignment. We aim to meet this challenge head on with togetherness in the squad and the entire club. I'm really looking forward to taking on the biggest Bundesliga clubs at the Millerntor."
Photos: FC St. Pauli
