What had already become apparent is now certainty: Bundesliga newcomer FC St. Pauli has signed Alexander Blessin from Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise as the successor to successful coach Fabian Hürzeler.
Blessin, who was born in Stuttgart, began the press conference to introduce himself in the North German way – with a “Moin!” The new head coach of the brown and white team soon made reference to his predecessor, also to clarify something on his own behalf: “Fabian has done a great job here. But I’m not Fabian 2.0, I’m Alex Blessin.”
He had already received many compliments from his new employer. “With Alexander Blessin we were able to gain an internationally experienced coach for FC St. Pauli. He brings a lot of tactical knowledge and has already worked in the top division in Belgium and Italy as well as internationally. We are very happy that he has decided – despite the prospect of Champions League games – to lead FC St. Pauli in the Bundesliga as head coach,” said St. Pauli’s sporting director Andreas Bornemann.
“FC St. Pauli has incredible appeal in Germany and internationally.”
— Alexander Blessin, new coach of FC St. Pauli
Blessin looks forward to “great task”
For the new coach, FC St. Pauli “stands for clear values and ambitious work in professional sport. It is therefore a great task to coach the club in the Bundesliga after a long time in the second division,” said Blessin. “We want to tackle this challenge courageously with unity in the team and the entire club. I am incredibly excited about challenging the really big clubs in the Bundesliga at the Millerntor.”
A basic agreement between Blessin and FC St. Pauli was reached a few days ago, and recently it was just a matter of details. The 51-year-old has been on the sidelines of Belgian first division club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise since last summer and won the national cup and the runner-up title with the team.
Transfer fee for Blessin due
His contract originally ran until June 30, 2025, so St. Pauli has to pay a transfer fee for him. This is said to be between 750,000 and one million euros, depending on success. The Hamburg team is therefore investing part of the transfer fee in the high single-digit million range that St. Pauli received for Hürzeler from Brighton & Hove Albion in the successor to the promotion coach.
Blessin’s first coaching position in German professional football
Blessin, who was born in Stuttgart, started his coaching career with RB Leipzig’s U17 team and later with the Bundesliga club’s U19 team. “From his time in Leipzig, he knows exactly how young players should be introduced to the men’s team,” says Bornemann. He then coached CFC Genoa in Italy and the Belgian club KV Oostende before the former attacker moved to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League.
St. Pauli wants to keep the game idea
Blessin is likely to continue in the Bundesliga what made St. Pauli strong under Hürzeler: dominant possession football. The 51-year-old, who played seven times for VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga as a player, but mostly played in the 2nd division and below that up to the Oberliga, is considered to be just as obsessed with tactics as the departed promotion coach. He also prefers a system with a three-man chain – a 3-5-2. Hürzeler usually played a 3-4-3.
Preparations start on July 8
St. Pauli will start preparing for the new season on July 8th. From July 15th to 25th, the Hamburg team will be attending a training camp in Scheffau, Austria, before their first competitive game of the season in the first round of the DFB Cup against Halleschen FC on August 16th (6 p.m.).
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Hamburg Journal | 23.06.2024 | 19:30
