Holger Stanislawski is to depart St Pauli in the summer after almost two decades at the club.
Long association to come to an end in the summer
Manager Holger Stanislawski has announced that he will depart St Pauli in the summer after almost two decades on the payroll.
The 41-year-old has decided to walk away after 18 years of service, saying it is 'time for a change'.
"These last few years have taken a lot out of me," he added at a press conference. "I don't feel I am able to do justice to this club anymore."
Stanislawski was unable to hold back the tears as he met the media after an equally emotional announcement on his club's
official website heralded the end of an 18-year bond.
Stanislawski first joined St Pauli in 1993 and he played a total of 260 matches for them before injury forced him to retire in 2004.
He then held various positions at the club, including vice-president, director of sport and, since 2006, head coach, leading them to promotion to the second division in his first year in charge and then back into the top flight last season.
St Pauli are currently second from the bottom of the Bundesliga table with five games of the season remaining, and bidding to avoid an immediate return to the second division.
The club had also been bidding to hold onto Stanislawski, even in the event of relegation.
"They made me a lucrative offer, but I wanted to find a new challenge," explained 'Stani', as he is affectionately known.
St Pauli's director of sport Helmut Schulte said: "It is a very sad day on which we have lost our frontman."
Stanislawski is expected to be appointed as the new coach of Bundesliga rivals Hoffenheim from next season after they announced earlier this week that Marco Pezzaiuoli's contract would be terminated in the summer.
Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp also confirmed on Wednesday that Stanislawski is the 'favourite' for the position.
Ban appeal successful
Meanwhile, St Pauli have won their appeal against a spectator ban at their next Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen.
The German Football Association (DFB) imposed the sanction after an assistant referee was hit by a plastic cup of beer in the match against Schalke on 1st April.
St Pauli duly appealed the decision to make them play behind closed doors and a tribunal has upheld their objections.
Instead St Pauli must play their first game next season at least 30 miles from Hamburg and with a maximum of 12,500 fans in attendance.
Stanislawski said: "I have great respect for the DFB control board and the DFB sports court. This is called fair play from a sporting point of view and we very much appreciate that we can host the last two home games this season with the support of our fans."
