Latest news with #St.Pauli
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
RB Leipzig eye Alexander Blessin for managerial role
RB Leipzig seems to have a new favorite to take over as head coach after the refusals of Oliver Glasner and Cesc Fàbregas. The name of the moment is Alexander Blessin, coach of St. Pauli. In addition to strong internal support, he has a powerful ally: Jürgen Köpp, global director of football at Red Bull. Known for his aggressive style of play and focus on developing young talents, Blessin embodies the philosophy that marked the Ralf Rangnick era in Leipzig. Furthermore, he knows the club well: between 2012 and 2020, he worked in the RB Leipzig youth categories, which reinforces his connection with the team's identity. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here. 📸 Stuart Franklin - 2025 Getty Images
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
St. Pauli extends Sands loan from NYCFC despite injury
St. Pauli extends Sands loan from NYCFC despite injury Show Caption Hide Caption 'Heartbeat' and 'Brilliant' kits unveiled for USWNT, USMNT U.S. Soccer on May 13 unveiled the 2025 Nike U.S. National Team Kit Collection, introducing new kits for the men's and women's teams . U.S. Soccer James Sands seems to have made a real impression on St. Pauli. The Bundesliga side announced on Tuesday that it has extended the midfielder's loan from New York City FC through the end of the 2025-26 season. Sands only managed to make seven appearances after joining St. Pauli in a midseason loan, as an ankle injury in February ended his season. But those handful of matches were enough to convince St. Pauli that the 24-year-old was worth bringing back for a full season. "James had integrated excellently with us since his arrival and was then unfortunately slowed down by the injury," said head coach Alexander Blessin in a team release. "He has shown that with his tactical understanding, flexibility, and skillful tackling, he can contribute greatly to our stability. It's all the more pleasing that we now have him in our team for much longer than just half a season." Sands had started five matches in a row for St. Pauli before his injury. Following the final round of matches last weekend, St. Pauli secured its Bundesliga status for next season by finishing in 14th place. "We are very pleased that we were able to reach an agreement to extend the loan agreement," said St. Pauli sporting director Andreas Bornemann. "A corresponding clause was already included in the original contract, but could not be activated due to James' injury. In his previous appearances for us, he has already proven that he can hold his own in the Bundesliga and strengthen our team. Now it's important to continue to support James as best as possible in his return to the pitch." Sands has earned 13 caps for the U.S. men's national team, most recently appearing at the 2023 Gold Cup.
New York Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
USMNT's James Sands staying at St. Pauli on season-long loan for 2025-26
USMNT midfielder James Sands will stay at Bundesliga club St. Pauli on a season-long loan deal. Sands joined the German club in January on a loan deal for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign from New York City FC, with that agreement now being extended by a further season. The 24-year-old is currently out indefinitely after undergoing surgery in February on what was described as a 'complex ankle injury' which was sustained in a league game against Freiburg. Advertisement 'Missing a large part of the second half of the season is obviously a disappointment, but at the same time, it motivates me to return to the pitch as soon as possible so that we can build on what we've achieved together,' Sands said upon his loan renewal. St. Pauli's head coach Alexander Blessin said of the U.S. international's renewal: 'He has shown that with his tactical understanding, flexibility, and skillful tackling, he can contribute greatly to our stability.' St. Pauli, promoted back to the Bundesliga a year ago, finished 14th in the German top-flight, three points above the relegation play-off place. Sands, who has made 13 international appearances, previously had loan spells at Louisville City and Scottish club Rangers. This is good news for everybody. Sands made such a strong impression at before his injury and it happened just after he had really started to show his worth to the side. Alexander Blessin's side were newly promoted this season and managed to survive in the Bundesliga on account of an excellent defensive record. Sands, who is such a strong tackler and sturdy defensive player generally, was a natural fit for a team that depended on its organisation. But his versatility was a great strength, too. At different times, Sands was used in midfield, typically in tandem with club captain Jackson Irvine, or within a three-man defence, offering cover, but also allowing Eric Smith, ball-playing Swedish centre-back, to be moved further forward as necessary. He was playing some of the best football of his career when he suffered that injury against Freiburg, and seemed at home at the Millerntor Stadium and in Hamburg more broadly. He showed enough on the pitch, too, that he is worth this leap of faith from the club, even though he will likely not be fit for the start of the new season. ()
Reuters
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Australia ponder the options for World Cup qualifiers after Irvine blow
MELBOURNE, April 30 (Reuters) - Australia will be without midfield stalwart Jackson Irvine for World Cup qualifiers in June, leaving coach Tony Popovic to scour the A-League and overseas clubs for a replacement. Irvine will be sidelined for at least three months after having surgery on a foot injury suffered when playing for Bundesliga club St. Pauli. Popovic said Irvine's absence was "certainly a blow" for the Socceroos as their hopes of an automatic ticket to the 2026 finals hang in the balance ahead of a home qualifier against Japan (June 5) and a trip to face Saudi Arabia (June 10). "He played very well for us in the last (international) window and has been doing very well at St. Pauli," Popovic told Australian media. "It's a blow, but we have to find a solution. There are solutions. "We've got an eye on the A-League players that are playing, but we've got a lot of midfielders playing overseas at the moment, getting regular minutes, so we're monitoring everyone. "There's an opportunity for someone to come in." Popovic said uncapped Europe-based midfielders Max Balard and Nectarios Triantis could come into consideration in the absence of 78-cap veteran Irvine, who scored in the 2-0 qualifier win over China in Hangzhou in March. Second in Asia's Group C on 13 points, Australia will qualify directly for the World Cup in North America if they can hold their place. Japan have already qualified on 20 points, while third-placed Saudi Arabia, three points behind the Socceroos, are also in the hunt for the automatic berth which comes with a top-two finish. The third and fourth-placed teams will have further chances to qualify in the fourth round, though. Australia will have a training camp in late-May in Abu Dhabi that will allow staff to assess all the options for the qualifiers. Popovic said an assistant coach would also run the rule over young Italy-based defender Alessandro Circati as he closes in on a return to action for Serie A side Parma following an ACL injury. "Paul Okon will be going to visit him in the next few days to have a really close look at where he's at in terms of his training and to see his level,' Popovic said. "(Circati) feels he's ready, but we have to consider all factors before selecting him."
News.com.au
30-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Absence of injured star Jackson Irvine a ‘blow' for Socceroos, admits coach Tony Popovic
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic says he has no choice but to 'find a solution' for the absence of key midfielder Jackson Irvine for Australia's FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June against Japan and Saudi Arabia. The rock of the Socceroos' engine room, Irvine, 32, is set to be sidelined for at least three months after having surgery this week on a foot injury he suffered in Germany with his Bundesliga club St. Pauli. 'It's certainly a blow,' Popovic said. 'He played very well for us in the last (international) window (in March) and has been doing very well at St. Pauli. It looks like they'll stay up, which is great news for him personally. 'It will be a bit of a process now coming back, but having been in touch with him, he is very positive, and the operation went very well. 'He'll be back, I believe, for some part of pre-season next season, hopefully. 'It's a blow, but we have to find a solution. There are solutions. 'We've got an eye on the A-League players that are playing, but we've got a lot of midfielders playing overseas at the moment, getting regular minutes, so we're monitoring everyone. 'There's an opportunity for someone to come in.' Those players include Max Balard (NAC Breda, Netherlands) and Nectarios Triantis (Hibernian, Scotland), who have been part of Socceroos camps under Popovic but remain uncapped. 'We've had Max in, now we've had Triantis in as well, so we've seen them in the camp. They've gone back (to their clubs) and continued to play well, so they're an option, but there's always someone else,' said Popovic, who used the example of Melbourne Victory midfielder Ryan Teague having stood out on debut in Australia's 2-0 away in China in March despite being an 'unexpected' selection. 'He has a really calm temperament. He doesn't get fazed by anything. He knew he was playing the day before and just went out and executed and was confident to get on the ball, which helped us a lot to really silence the crowd in the first half. 'Him getting on the ball and controlling the tempo played a big part in the performance and the result. 'It was his first time in with us, and he played, so the way I see it is someone else can come in now and do the same thing that Ryan did – unexpected call-up, gets in, performs, and there's an opportunity for him to continue growing and playing more games for the Socceroos.' To help further assess potential replacements for Irvine as well as players vying for other positions in the squad for the games against Japan (June 5, Perth) and Saudi Arabia (June 11 AEST, Jeddah), Popovic and his coaching staff will conduct a training camp in late May in Abu Dhabi. Popovic hopes talented young defender Alessandro Circati is part of that camp, Circati, 21, hasn't played since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in September last year but has recovered sufficiently to be on the bench for his Italian top-flight club Parma's past three matches. '(Socceroos assistant coach) Paul Okon will be going to visit him in the next few days to have a really close look at where he's at in terms of his training and to see his level,' Popovic said. 'He's at a club that's in the Serie A that's recently got some great results and look like staying in the league, so that'll be important. 'The boy has already put his hand up that he wants to be involved, which is fantastic. 'He feels he's ready, but we have to consider all factors before selecting him. 'We will have a camp in Abu Dhabi, so there'll be a 10-day window to bring some of these boys like 'Ale' into that camp, where we can have a good look at them. 'Then we can see what level he's at and whether he can be part of the squad for Perth.'
