Brighton make Premier League history as they confirm appointment of Fabian Hurzeler, 31, as new manager

BRIGHTON have announced Fabian Hurzeler as their new manager.

Hurzeler, 31, will make history as the youngest ever permanent Premier League boss.

The Texas-born German has signed a deal with the Seagulls until 2027.

Brighton confirmed the news on Saturday afternoon.

In a statement, club chairman Tony Bloom said: "From the start of the process to appoint our new head coach, Fabian was always a standout candidate and one who had caught our attention with his exceptional work at St Pauli over the past 18 months.

"He has a style of play that aligns with how we want a Brighton & Hove Albion team to play, and I’m confident it is one our supporters will appreciate and enjoy.

"Fabian also has an excellent coaching pedigree and has worked with the German federation at various age group levels.

"We are really excited to start working with Fabian to prepare for the upcoming season."

Hurzeler has left German club St Pauli, with whom he earned promotion to the Bundesliga after winning the Bundesliga 2 title, to take up the position at the Amex.

He replaces Roberto De Zerbi, who is reportedly closing in on a move to Ligue 1 side Marseille.

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Brighton have said once his work permit has been processed he will start work before the squad's pre-season return.

On the move, Hurzeler said: "After speaking to Tony [Bloom], Paul [Barber] and David [Weir] it was clear they are highly ambitious. Brighton have a unique history and a bold vision for the future so I am truly excited to be part of the project.

“The club has made incredible progress over the last few seasons and the aim is to continue building on that success.

"I am relishing the opportunity to coach in the Premier League, and I can’t wait to meet the players, staff and, of course, the fans."

Paul Barber, deputy chairman and chief executive, said: "Away from the pressure of the regular season, we have taken our time to get this appointment right and are delighted to have agreed with Fabian to become our new head coach.

"He has already shown in a relatively short space of time as a head coach that he is one of the most innovative coaches working in football, and we are looking forward to getting ready for next season.”

Meanwhile, technical director David Weir added, “We will work closely with Fabian to help him settle in, and to get to know the club, staff and the area.

“Fabian already has an excellent knowledge of our squad and players, and we will be working to strengthen an already very strong squad during the transfer window.

“We will confirm all of Fabian's immediate backroom staff in due course, although Andrew Crofts and Jack Stern will be part of that coaching group, as first-team coach and goalkeeping coach respectively.”

Hurzeler will be officially unveiled to the media at a news conference at the Amex on July 2.

Hurzeler's career

He was born in America to a Swiss dentist and German mother - who already had one daughter - before the family moved back to Germany, specifically Freiburg, when he was still young.

As a player, Hurzeler started his career with Bayern, though only ever playing for their second side. He once described himself as the worst player in the team when he arrived.

Emre Can, the Borussia Dortmund captain, played alongside him there and tipped his team-mate for a fine career in coaching.

Playing as a midfielder, Hurzeler represented Germany at numerous youth levels - once facing an England Under-16 side which included Ross Barkley, Jack Butland and Conor Coady, with the Three Lions even winning on penalties.

After dotting around the second sides of Bayern, Hoffenheim and 1860 Munich, Hurzeler ended his professional playing career at 23 and dropped into amateur football - playing and coaching for FC Pipinsried.

He combined that with coaching roles for Germany's Under-20 and Under-18 sides.

It became clear that coaching was his destiny and, in 2020, Hurzeler took the job as an assistant to Timo Schultz at St. Pauli.

Two years later he was thrown into the top job after Schultz was sacked with St. Pauli only above the relegation zone on goal difference.

Hurzeler made an immediate impact, winning all ten of his first games - not only a club record winning streak but even better than the six Jurgen Klopp managed when he started out at Mainz.

Having guided St. Pauli well clear of relegation trouble up to finish in fifth, Hurzeler made more history this season winning the Bundesliga 2 by a single point to guide the Hamburg based club back to the top flight for the first time in 13 years.

A new contract was awarded in March 2024 to deter interest from Bundesliga clubs, but the lure of Brighton and the Premier League proved too much for one of the youngest coaches in European football.