FABIAN HURZELER BECAME the youngest full-time manager of an English Premier League club after Brighton announced on Saturday they had appointed the 31-year-old as their new head coach.

Hurzeler, who guided St Pauli to the second division title of the German Bundesliga last season, has signed a contract with the south coast club until 2027.

Texas-born Hurzeler will now be in charge of a Seagulls team where several players, including James Milner, 38, Danny Welbeck, 33, and Lewis Dunk, 32, are all older than him.

But Brighton chairman Tony Bloom said Hurzeler’s work in taking St Pauli to the German top flight made him an “excellent candidate” to succeed Roberto De Zerbi, who left the Amex Stadium at the end of last season.

Hurzeler will start his new job if he is given a work permit before the Brighton squad begins their pre-season preparations in July.

“From the outset of the process to appoint our new head coach, Fabian was always a standout candidate and someone who had caught our attention with his exceptional work at St. Pauli over the past eighteen months,” Bloom said in a club statement.

“He has a playing style that reflects the way we want a Brighton and Hove Albion team to play and I am confident our supporters will appreciate and enjoy this.

“Fabian also has an excellent coaching background and has worked with the German Federation at various age group levels. We are very excited to be working with Fabian in preparation for the upcoming season.”

– ‘Bold vision’ –
Hurzeler, who took on his first coaching role in 2016, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be the new head coach of Brighton and Hove Albion.

He added: “The club has a unique history and a bold vision for the future, so I am really excited to be part of the project.”

St Pauli sporting director Andreas Bornemann said while saddened by Hurzeler’s departure, the club respected his ‘desire’ to work in the Premier League.

“Fabian has done an excellent job, both as assistant and head coach of St. Pauli,” said Bornemann.

“We knew that he could also be interesting for other clubs. We would have liked to continue this path with him. We wish Fabian all the best and much success for the future.”

Ryan Mason, then 29, briefly served as Tottenham’s interim boss in 2021 and became the youngest coach to manage a Premier League team. But Hurzeler is the youngest to do so on a full-time basis since the division was founded in 1992.

The Zerbi took charge of Brighton in September 2022 and guided the Seagulls to their highest finish when they finished sixth in the 2022/23 season.

The Italian also sent Brighton to Europe for the first time in their history, advancing to the last 16 of the Europa League before losing 4-1 on aggregate to Roma.

– ©AFP2024