FC St. Pauli is parting ways with head coach Alexander Blessin. The Hamburg-based club officially announced the separation. The successor will be announced soon. Andreas Bornemann, FC St. Pauli's sports director, explains: We are grateful to Alex for his good and passionate work over the past two years. St. Pauli missed out on staying in the top flight in the second season. Andreas Bornemann elaborates: Alex's qualities as a coach are undisputed, but after our analysis, we came to the conclusion that a separation and a fresh start with full conviction this summer is the right way to go. Former Kiel coach Marcel Rapp is reportedly set to take over as coach in the upcoming season. Previously, former KSC coach Christian Eichner, former Werder coach Horst Steffen, and Mitch Kniat, who was released by Arminia Bielefeld after the season, were listed as further candidates. Blessin joined St. Pauli after the club's promotion to the Bundesliga in 2024, leaving Belgian top-flight club Union Saint-Gilloise. The decision to part ways with Alexander Blessin is an important step for the club. FC St. Pauli wants to move forward with a new coach to achieve promotion back to the Bundesliga. The search for a suitable successor is already underway. The club does not want to commit to a specific candidate but will explore various options. The decision to part ways with Alexander Blessin was not easy. The coach has done a lot for the club over the past two years. Andreas Bornemann emphasizes that the separation is not due to personal differences but due to the sporting situation. FC St. Pauli wants to focus on promotion and find a coach who can lead the club back to the Bundesliga.