FC St. Pauli appoints Marcel Rapp as new head coach

Marcel Rapp, 47, has been appointed head coach of FC St. Pauli, taking over from Alexander Blessin after the club's relegation from the Bundesliga. Rapp spent five years as coach of Holstein Kiel, guiding them to promotion in 2024 before being dismissed in February 2025. He said the "biggest mistake is to think you are still a first‑division team" and promised to "run, fight, and bring passion" to the squad.

Rapp will begin player assessments on 21 June, with training officially starting on 25 June at the club’s Kollaustraße facilities. A pre‑season friendly is scheduled for 11 July in Babelsberg, followed by a training camp in Flachau, Austria from 17 to 25 July. The team aims to be ready for the 2. Bundesliga season kickoff in early August.