Borussia Mönchengladbach have appointed Alexander Blessin as head coach on a contract until 2028 after moving on from Eugen Polanski. The change follows a bruising start to the campaign, with Polanski relieved of his duties after the 5-0 defeat at Freiburg on Matchday 3. Jan-Moritz Lichte then took temporary charge for Saturday's 4-3 home defeat to Mainz, and Gladbach have now chosen a permanent replacement quickly.
Bundesliga.com's report on the appointment stated: "Borussia Mönchengladbach have appointed former St. Pauli boss Alexander Blessin as their new head coach."
The speed of the move tells its own story. Gladbach are 12th in the Bundesliga table and their recent league run contains four defeats in five. The club's last five results overall include one win in the Pokal, but the league form is what forced the decision.
The pressure around the appointment
This is not a slow-burn coaching change. Gladbach have reacted to two very specific setbacks, the 5-0 loss at Freiburg and the 4-3 defeat at home to Mainz under Lichte, with the second result coming after Polanski had already gone.
That leaves Blessin walking into a side already under pressure, even this early in the season. A contract until 2028 shows the club are not framing him as a short-term firefighter, but the immediate job is obvious enough: settle results and stop the kind of games that spiral away from Gladbach too quickly.
It also means the appointment carries a bit more weight than a routine September switch. When a club changes manager after Matchday 3 and then loses again under an interim coach, patience has already thinned.
Blessin's recent track record
Blessin returns to a Bundesliga dugout after his spell with FC St. Pauli. He joined the Hamburg club ahead of the 2024-25 campaign and helped them preserve their Bundesliga status that season.
His wider coaching route has been busy rather than linear. Blessin began with RB Leipzig's U17 and U19 sides, then moved on to Oostende before taking the Genoa job in January 2022. Bundesliga.com's report added: "He joined Serie A outfit Genoa in January 2022 but left after less than a year at the helm, eventually taking charge of Union Saint-Gilloise in July 2023."
There is also a less flattering number attached to his last Bundesliga post. St. Pauli finished 18th in the 2025-26 Bundesliga and took 26 points from 34 league matches. That does not rule him out as a fit for Gladbach, but it does mean this hire is based more on the club's belief in his coaching than on a spotless recent top-flight record.
What Gladbach are betting on
The obvious case for Blessin is that Gladbach did not need a grand reset as much as they needed someone in place fast. After Polanski's exit and Lichte's brief spell in temporary charge, dragging the uncertainty out would have looked worse than making a call.
Blessin arrives with a contract long enough to suggest a planned appointment, not just an emergency one. He also arrives with a mixed but broad CV, from youth coaching at RB Leipzig to senior jobs in Belgium, Italy and Germany. For a club sitting 12th and already carrying the damage of that Freiburg defeat, that was apparently enough to act now.
His first weeks will be judged against a low bar created by the opening results. Gladbach have already taken the drastic step. The next part is whether the change brings calmer afternoons than the 5-0 at Freiburg and the 4-3 loss to Mainz.
FAQ
Why did Borussia Mönchengladbach appoint Alexander Blessin so early in the season?
Gladbach acted after a poor start. Eugen Polanski was relieved of his duties following a 5-0 defeat at Freiburg on Matchday 3, and Jan-Moritz Lichte then oversaw a 4-3 home defeat to Mainz in temporary charge. The club are 12th in the Bundesliga and have lost four of their last five league matches.
What contract has Alexander Blessin signed at Gladbach?
Alexander Blessin has joined Borussia Mönchengladbach on a contract until 2028. The appointment was confirmed after the club dismissed Eugen Polanski and moved quickly to install a permanent replacement rather than stay with an interim setup.
What is Alexander Blessin's coaching background before Gladbach?
Blessin started his coaching career with RB Leipzig's U17 and U19 sides. He then worked at Oostende, moved to Genoa in January 2022, and later took charge of Union Saint-Gilloise in July 2023. Most recently, he joined FC St. Pauli ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
How did Alexander Blessin do at FC St. Pauli before joining Gladbach?
Blessin's last Bundesliga job was at FC St. Pauli. He helped the Hamburg club preserve their Bundesliga status in the 2024-25 season, but the numbers attached to that spell were not especially strong: St. Pauli finished 18th and collected 26 points from 34 league matches.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
