Fabian Hurzeler, a young and ambitious football manager, has made a groundbreaking move by joining Brighton & Hove Albion as their new head coach.
At just 31 years old, Hurzeler has shattered the record for the youngest permanent manager in the history of the Premier League. This appointment comes after the departure of former Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Brighton & Hove Albion officially announced the arrival of Fabian Hurzeler as their new manager, succeeding Roberto De Zerbi. Born in February 1993, Hurzeler’s appointment as the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history is a remarkable achievement. He has signed a three-year contract with the club.
Expressing his excitement, Hurzeler said, “I am absolutely thrilled to take on the role of head coach at Brighton & Hove Albion. After engaging in discussions with Tony Bloom, Paul Barber, and David Weir, it became evident that the club possesses great ambition. Brighton has a rich history and an inspiring vision for the future, which makes me genuinely excited to be part of this project. The club has made remarkable progress in recent seasons, and our aim is to build upon that success. I am eagerly looking forward to working with the players, staff, and, of course, the fans in the Premier League.”
Hurzeler replaces De Zerbi, who guided Brighton to their highest-ever top-flight finish in his debut season, securing a historic sixth-place finish in the 2022/23 campaign and earning European football for the first time in the club’s history.
After a challenging 2023/24 season marred by injuries, which resulted in Brighton’s elimination from the UEFA Europa League and an 11th-place finish in the Premier League, De Zerbi’s departure was announced in May. Although De Zerbi had made a strong impression since joining the club in 2022 to replace Graham Potter, his exit has paved the way for Hurzeler’s record-breaking appointment.
Hurzeler, who was born in the United States, leaves his position as the manager of newly-promoted Bundesliga side St Pauli to embark on this exciting new chapter in England. He took over as St Pauli’s permanent boss in 2022 at the age of 29, following two years as an assistant coach.
In his second season in charge, Hurzeler led the team to the Bundesliga II title, orchestrating a remarkable turnaround for a club that was on the verge of relegation. They secured promotion back to the top-flight after a 13-year absence, thanks to an impressive 10-match winning streak.
St Pauli was Hurzeler’s second managerial role, with his first senior position being at lower-league German club FC Pipinsried from 2016 to 2020, before joining St Pauli as an assistant under Timo Schultz.
Hurzeler’s accomplishments include obtaining his UEFA Pro Licence at the age of 30 in April of last year during his time with St Pauli, further solidifying his credentials as a young and promising manager.
