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The United States have themselves another promising manager.
31-year-old American manager Hurzeler secures promotion to Bundesliga with St. Pauli
St. Pauli, a club in Germany’s second-tier managed by the American manager Fabian Hurzeler, secured promotion to the Bundesliga after 13 years.
The 31-year-old, born in Houston, Texas, helped the Hamburg-based club finish above their local rivals, Hamburg SV, in the standings for the first time ever. It's their sixth promotion to the Bundesliga and will appear in the country's top-flight for the first time since the 2010/11 season.
ST PAULI PROMOTED TO BUNDESLIGA sparking pitch invasion.
Led by coaching wunderkind Fabian Hurzeler—31yo coach born in Houston—takes Kiezkicker back up to German top flight after 13 years.— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) May 12, 2024
US-BORN FABIAN HURZELER LEADS FC ST. PAULI BACK TO BUNDESLIGA. Houston-born, 31yo guides Hamburg club to top tier for 1st time since 2011. Dubbed "American Julian Nagelsmann" by media, Hürzeler said of US: "I just love the country. I love the people. I love the adventure." pic.twitter.com/bI2Ha046Hb
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) May 12, 2024
Heading into the final game of the season, St. Pauli leads the standings with 66 points, just one ahead of second-placed Holstein Kiel and six clear of third-placed Fortuna Duesseldorf. In the league's structure, the top two teams earn direct promotion, allowing St. Pauli to celebrate their promotion after their win 3-1 victory over Osnabrueck on Sunday.
We ❤️ St. Pauli!#fcsp pic.twitter.com/N24pjcJgC4
— FC St. Pauli (@fcstpauli) May 12, 2024
Who is Fabian Hurzeler, 31-year-old American manager in Bundesliga?
Hurzeler, dubbed the “American Julian Nagelsmann” by German media, began his professional managerial career as the new assistant at FC St. Pauli under head coach Timo Schultz.
Though, after Schultz's dismissal in December 2022, Hurzeler was named the interim head coach and weeks later, the U.S.-born was permanently appointed as the head coach, making him the youngest head coach in the 2. Bundesliga league at only 29 years old — taking the club from a tough relegation battle to fighting for the top spots in the league table and now securing promoting to the country’s top-flight.
Hurzeler made a few appearances for the USYNT as well as the German national team and played most of his career in the lower ranks of German soccer, playing for Bayern Munich ll, 1899 Hoffenheim ll and 1860 Munich ll, ending his career at just 23 years of age.
Congratulations to Houston-born Fabian Hurzeler who has lead St. Pauli to the Bundesliga.
- He took the head coaching job last January at the age of 29 and in a relegation battle. He orchestrated an immediate and phenomenal turnaround
- Back in the day with the U.S. U-20s pic.twitter.com/Um7bWLeIUt— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) May 12, 2024
He’s set to become the youngest-ever manager to coach a club in the Bundesliga only behind Julian Nagelsmann who managed TSG Hoffenheim at the age of 28 in 2015.
