After relegation, coach Alex Mayr was celebrated by his players. © Rosario Multari

“An amazing ride”: St. Pauls coach Alex Mayr says hello

It was a spectacular league rescue that FC St. Pauls pulled off last Sunday and in the second half of the season. With the last matchday, Alex Mayr's time at the traditional Überetsch club also came to an end: he will no longer be the coach in St. Pauls next season.

18 May 2023

From: sn

“It was crazy! Relief, joy for everyone involved and gratitude for four wonderful years at this club”: These are the things that went through Alex Mayr’s head last Sunday after the final whistle. Thanks to the 3-2 win over Comano, the blue-whites stayed in the top league. It was a small miracle after the Überetscher were still at the bottom of the table after the first half of the season and probably not many people would have bet on staying in the league.

“In the winter I had one or two conversations with my wife Vera about what to do next. In the end, the prevailing feeling was that we as a coaching team were helping the men move forward. I once told Simon Fabi (sports director, editor's note) that I really enjoy training this team - but unfortunately the games are on Sunday. And on Sundays we were just too green in the first half of the season,” said Mayr, who then added: “The fact that the Manders were able to implement so much in the second half of the season and reward themselves for their hard work in the end is one thing extraordinary development and a small miracle.”

Now he will be Schenna coach

The 44-year-old football teacher has been coaching St. Pauls for four years now. For Mayr, it was the first big stop in his coaching career, after he had previously trained in the youth ranks and had previously been active as a notorious striker. Now his adventure in Überetsch is coming to an end: Mayr will coach Schenna in the regional league next season. Meanwhile, Fabio Memmo, Latsch's former coach and former Blue-Whites player, is set to take over at St. Pauls.

Pure emotions: Alex Mayr (right) is warmed by Simon Fabi (St. Paul's sporting director). © Rosario Multari

For Mayr and his coaching team Yuri Pellegrini (assistant coach) and Marco Pagliani (goalie coach) it was an exciting four years, which were also marked by Corona. “An incredible number of moments go through my head: the 3-0 opening win in my first game against Obermais, the days with the team on the Mendel, the Corona online training with Yuri Pellegrini, last year's cup final in the Drususstadion, Jonas Clementi's hat-trick against Rotaliana, before everything was closed due to Corona, the derby victories against Tramin, Philipp Schweigkofler's serious knee injury and then the rollercoaster ride this year. An amazing ride!”

A big game is still waiting

But the season is not over for St. Pauls yet. Next Saturday the cup final against SSV Brixen will take place in the Drususstadion from 18 p.m. The Überetscher were in the final last year, but had to give way to St. Georgen. Now there is another chance for captain Hannes Ohnewein & Co. – and coach Alex Mayr could end his adventurous Pauls chapter with a memorable title.