Borussia Monchengladbach have appointed Alexander Blessin as their new manager after opening the Bundesliga season with four consecutive defeats.
The club dismissed Eugen Polanski on 13 September and placed Jan-Moritz Lichte in temporary charge. However, the change did not immediately improve their results, with Gladbach losing 4-3 to Mainz the following weekend.
Blessin has signed a contract with Borussia Monchengladbach until June 2028 as the club attempt to recover from their difficult start to the campaign.
The 52-year-old’s most recent role was a two-year spell with St Pauli, which ended in June. He took charge of the club after they had secured promotion to the Bundesliga under Fabian Hurzeler.
Blessin guided St Pauli to safety in their first season back in Germany’s top flight, but the club were relegated last term.
Borussia Monchengladbach said Blessin will be formally introduced at a press conference at ista-Borussia-Park at 13:30 CEST on Wednesday, 23rd September. Head of Sports Rouven Schroeder will also attend the presentation.
“Blessin will be officially unveiled at a press conference at ista-Borussia-Park at 13:30 CEST on Wednesday, 23rd September, with Head of Sports Rouven Schroeder in attendance,” the club said in a statement on their website.
The position at St Pauli was Blessin’s first senior managerial appointment in German football. Before that, he spent eight years working as a youth coach at RB Leipzig after being recruited by Ralf Rangnick.
His coaching career has also included spells outside Germany. Blessin managed KV Oostende in Belgium before taking charge of Genoa and Union Saint-Gilloise in Italy and Belgium respectively.
At the end of last season, Borussia Monchengladbach finished 12th in the Bundesliga, nine points above the relegation play-off position.
The new manager will have the international break to work with his squad and prepare for his first match in charge. Gladbach are due to return to Bundesliga action on October 11th, when they travel to FC Koln.