With nine matches remaining this season, FC St. Pauli find themselves five points clear atop the 2. Bundesliga table and 10 points inside the automatic promotion places.
Die Kiezkicker have spent the past 13 seasons in Germany’s second tier, finishing in the top five on four occasions since 2011-12. However, they have continuously fallen short.
Fast-forward to today – St. Pauli look destined to end their lengthy stay in the 2. Bundesliga and gain promotion back to the top flight.
Kugel: versenkt! #fcsp #fcspbsc pic.twitter.com/Y7h4NcKFR7— FC St. Pauli (@fcstpauli) March 12, 2024
Kugel: versenkt! #fcsp #fcspbsc pic.twitter.com/Y7h4NcKFR7
The Hamburg outfit have lost just two of their 25 league games this term, picking up 14 wins and nine draws along the way.
Remarkably, St. Pauli avoided defeat in each of their opening 20 matches, racking up 11 victories and nine draws before finally losing 1-0 to Magdeburg on February 10.
Die Kiezkicker have also remained unbeaten on home soil in 2023-24, taking 29 points from a possible 39 at Millerntor-Stadion.
On top of that, St. Pauli boast the best defensive record in the division, having conceded 25 goals in as many games this season.
Young manager Fabian Hurzeler can be credited with much of the team’s success. Believe it or not, the American-born Bayern Munich academy product is just 31 years old.
After making a name for himself at FC Pipinsried between 2016 and 2020, Hurzeler took the St. Pauli job in 2022 and hasn’t looked back since.
Several players have also played a key role, including Marcel Hartel, who has chalked up 13 goals and nine assists in 25 league appearances this term.
Elias Saad, Johannes Eggestein and Jack Irvine have each contributed nine goal involvements, while goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj has kept eight clean sheets.
Despite possessing a modest history on the field, FC St. Pauli are widely recognised for their distinctive social culture and passionate cult following.
Die Kiezkicker have a fierce rivalry with cross-city foes Hamburger SV, who currently occupy the promotion play-off spot.
Although St. Pauli have lost two of their last five league matches, they have won six of the previous eight, strengthening their promotion push in the process.
Thanks to their impressive record this season, Hurzeler’s side can afford to drop more points and still secure their place in the top flight for next term.
Following a 13-season absence from the Bundesliga, it is surely only a matter of time before St. Pauli’s top-flight return is confirmed.