FC St. Pauli is preparing for the new season in the 2nd Bundesliga at the training camp in Austria. Coach Marcel Rapp wants to make the team successful. What's next?

The Coach: Marcel Rapp

Alexander Blessin could and wanted no more, Marcel Rapp already. The former coach of Holstein Kiel took over the man who, after two years of relegation, needed a break from professional football. Advantage: Rapp knows the situation of the Kiezkicker, last year he left Kiel with the Bundesliga and had to start anew in the 2nd Liga. Disadvantage: It didn't go particularly well, Rapp was fired in the course of a weak Kiel season. At Millerntor, he wants to do it more successfully now.

The Players: Many leaders gone...

Nikola Vasilj, Karol Mets, Danel Sinani, Hauke Wahl, James Sands, Andreas Hountondji: Half the team of leaders is already gone. For WM-Fighter Eric Smith, it's only a matter of time, and behind (also WM-Fighter) Connor Metcalfe, there's a question mark. Joel Fujita is still on the training ground, but with a market value of 10 million euros, he's actually too good for the 2nd Liga - St. Pauli should be willing to talk at a corresponding offer, which is currently not the case. And there are also rumors about Manolis Saliakas, allegedly he will have the chance to play Champions League at his former club in Greece.

What will happen to Captain Irvine?

Many question marks, one last one stands behind the captain's name. Jackson Irvine has already declared after the relegation that he will go with the team into the 2nd Liga, but it's not entirely clear if that's what everyone in the team wants. As a face of the relegation with several side battles off the pitch, the Australian has lost some of his status as a flagship. He is still on vacation after the World Cup and not with the team.

So far, only three new signings

In contrast, there are currently only three new signings. Australian Sam Klein for the central midfield, defender Marcus Mathisen and striker Branimir Hrgota. While the first was signed with perspective, the two latter are experienced 2nd Liga players over 30 and are expected to take on leadership roles in the revamped team.

Paradigm shift: Suddenly a top team...

In the Bundesliga, St. Pauli was the outsider, financially and in terms of squad value, not competitive. In the 2nd Liga, the club has suddenly become the second most expensive team behind VW generously supported VfL Wolfsburg. The defensive core with Tomoya Ando, David Nemeth, Adam Dzwigala and Mathi

What will happen to the season?

FC St. Pauli has arrived in the 2nd Liga and must now prepare for the new season. Coach Marcel Rapp wants to make the team successful. What's next? The question is still open.

Recent form (last 5): 0W-0D-5L (LLLLL, most recent first); lost the last 5.

League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 18th in Bundesliga, 26 pts, 6W-8D-20L from 34 games, recent form LLLLD. Goals this season: 29 scored, 60 conceded (-31 goal difference). Title race: 63 points behind leaders Bayern München. Last result: FC St. Pauli 1-3 VfL Wolfsburg (2026-05-16).