Who is Alexander Blessin?
The new St. Pauli coach has a track record of creating winning teams and will hope to continue that trend with the Bundesliga new boys St. Pauli. But what else is there to know about the new coach on the block? bundesliga.com digs deeper ...
Stats correct as of 27 August 2024
Age: 51 (born 28 May, 1973)
Club: St. Pauli
Role: Coach
Country: Germany
Key stats
Blessin arrived at St. Pauli this summer following the departure of title winning boss Fabian Hürzeler. Blessin joins from Belgian side Union St. Gilloise where he recorded an impressive win percentage of 62%.
After starting his coaching career as assistant coach at SV Bonladen in the German lower leagues, Blessin then moved on to coach the youth teams of RB Leipzig, where he joined as assistant manager to the U17 team in 2012. Blessin spent seven years at Leipzig, working for the U17, U19 and reserve sides before leaving to take over as manager at KV Oostende in Belgium in 2019.
After two years at Oostende, where he won Belgium's coach of the year award, Blessin moved on to Genoa. At the time of taking over, Genoa were in 19th place in Serie A and provided and enormous challenge for Blessin so early on in his managerial career, as he aimed to steer them to safety. Despite their form improving, the Stuttgart native was unable to keep them in Serie A and he was let go in December of that year. Despite this setback, Blessin moved on to Union St. Gilloise back in Belgium, where he led the side to first place in the Jupiler Pro League in the 2023-24 season. Although they didn’t manage to win the play-off for the title that season they did win the Belgian Cup, beating Royal Antwerp 1-0 in the final with new Wolfsburg forward Mohamed Amoura leading the line for Blessin’s side.
After his impressive spell back in Belgium, St. Pauli saw Blessin as the ideal replacement for the departing Hürzeler.
Coaches a bit like: Julian Nagelsmann
Both coaches are known for their dynamic, modern approach to the game, with an emphasis on high pressing and fluid attacking movements. This preference for high-intensity attacking football is evidenced by the time spent by both coaches at Leipzig, with Blessin being trusted with coaching several youth teams in his seven year spell there while Nagelsmann was trusted with taking the Leipzig project further as head coach between 2019-2021.
Both coaches also display tactical flexibility, with Nagelsmann being known to be able to switch between playing either a back three or a back four, and Blessin being equally able to use both systems, At Union St. Gilloise and in St. Pauli’s first Bundesliga game of the season against Heidenheim, Blessin used a back three, thus allowing him to use wingbacks. At Genoa, however, Blessin stuck with a back four, highlighting his comfort at coaching both systems effectively.
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Did you know?
Before becoming a coach, Blessin was a professional footballer and played as a striker. He played in each of Germany’s top three leagues with VfB Stuttgart (Bundesliga), Stuttgarter Kickers (Bundesliga 2) and Jahn Regensburg (third division). Blessin also made one appearance in the Turkish Super Lig with Antalyaspor, but the majority of his 371 career appearances came in the Regionalliga Süd, which was part of Germany’s fourth tier until the league disbanded in 2012.
What they're saying
“He is a very open guy. He is a great person and talks a lot with the players. On the pitch he is also loud and of course pushes a lot. His system allows for that, of course. He wants a high level of pressing, so you need to be able to push yourself…” Johannes Eggestein, St. Pauli striker
"With Alexander Blessin we have been 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.” Andreas Bornemann, St. Pauli sporting director
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