FC St. Pauli 1910

Founding and Early Years

FC St. Pauli was founded on 15 May 1910 in Hamburg's St. Pauli district, near the harbour and the Reeperbahn, from which it takes its name. The club adopted brown and white, a colour combination deliberately distinct from traditional clubs.

Club Evolution

The club play at the Millerntor-Stadion, their home since 1963. Their famous skull-and-crossbones emblem, which emerged spontaneously from Hamburg's punk and alternative scene in the 1980s before being officially designed in 1989 and bought by the club in 1999, has become the symbol of an engaged, notably anti-fascist fan identity unique in European football.

Great Managers

St. Pauli's history is not one of a trophy cabinet but of a strong identity. Ewald Lienen, long associated with the club and head coach from 2014 to 2017, remains the figure most identified with the club's modern philosophy, more so than for sporting results.

Iconic Players

St. Pauli have no major international star in their history; the club's identity extends far beyond any individual player. Ivan Klasnić, who emerged at the club before the 2000-01 promotion, is its most internationally recognised alumnus.

Major Achievements

St. Pauli have never won the Bundesliga or the DFB-Pokal, reaching the latter's semi-final in 2005-06 while playing in the third division. The club has been marked by multiple promotions to the top flight throughout its history (1977, 1988, 1995, 2001, 2010, 2024), reflecting its "yo-yo club" status.

The Club Today

Led by Marcel Rapp since June 2026 and chaired by Oke Göttlich since 2014, St. Pauli play in the German second division for the 2026-27 season following relegation, but remain one of the clubs with the strongest and most distinctive identity in Europe.