Sören Ahlers: New goalkeeping coach for the U23s at FC St. Pauli!

Sören Ahlers: New goalkeeping coach for the U23s at FC St. Pauli!

FC St. Pauli recently hired Sören Ahlers as the new goalkeeping coach for the U23 team. The club announced this today. Ahlers, who was previously active for the licensed team, is looking forward to passing on his experience in the youth sector. “I am proud to remain part of FC St. Pauli and to share my knowledge with the young goalkeepers,” said Ahlers about the plans for his new role. This further development is not only important for him personally, but also for the club, which attaches great importance to promoting young talent. According to fcstpauli.com, Ahlers can look back on an eventful career.

Ahlers came to Hamburg from the FC Schalke 04 second team in August 2021 and has had the opportunity to learn under different coaches over the last four years. This time, as well as his appearances for the U23s in the regional league, in which he played a total of 21 games and kept three clean sheets, prepared him well for his new role. Carsten Rothenbach, sporting director of the U23, described Ahlers as the “ideal person” for the position of goalkeeping coach. He particularly emphasizes the combination of his professional experience and knowledge of the U23.

A new challenge

The decision to become a goalkeeper coach is not the first that Ahlers has made in his career. After a knee operation in July 2024, which kept him busy for several months and prevented him from returning to the professional team, he faced new challenges. During the rehabilitation and development training, he stayed ready so that he could continue to contribute to the team. The move to the U23 also represents an opportunity for him to get involved in the club in a different way.

FC St. Pauli's U23 is not only seen as an important platform for the development of young players, but also as a central element in the club's philosophy of specifically promoting talent. Sascha Burchert, goalkeeper coordinator, emphasizes the importance of this team and the responsibility that Ahlers has in his new role to provide a good foundation for the next generations of players.

The art of promoting talent

The development of young talent is a complex process in which many factors play a role. As described in an article by die-sportpsychologen.de, physical, psychological and social circumstances significantly influence the performance of young players. With his experience, Ahlers not only brings technical know-how, but also the importance of a positive coach-player relationship, which is crucial for the development of young athletes.

As a former player, Ahlers also has the perspective of an athlete and knows the challenges that young professionals have to face. This will help him as a trainer to develop a good sense of the needs of his protégés. The combination of performance and personality will be crucial to whether players can progress to professional football.

Coaching skills are very important in youth football. The responsibility that Ahlers now bears will not only have a positive influence on the sporting but also the social environment of his protégés. With him at the helm of goalkeeper training, FC St. Pauli hopes to create a solid foundation for future players who can also play a good role in professional football. The entire team is looking forward to working together and the new opportunities that this exciting phase brings with it.