Brighton is expected to announce the appointment of Fabian Hürzeler as their new head coach this week, making him the youngest permanent manager in the Premier League era at just 31 years old. Hürzeler, who recently guided St Pauli to promotion, has been likened to Julian Nagelsmann and is renowned for his data-driven approach.
The German manager has reportedly agreed to terms to replace Roberto De Zerbi after Brighton identified him as their preferred candidate. The club has obtained a work permit in anticipation of confirming Hürzeler’s appointment. While compensation details with St Pauli are still being finalized, sources close to the deal indicate that it is nearing resolution.
Brighton’s owner, Tony Bloom, and technical director, David Weir, were impressed by Hürzeler’s achievement in leading St Pauli back to the Bundesliga for the first time since 2011. Although Brighton had considered rehiring Graham Potter and held discussions with him, they pursued a fresh direction after being rebuffed by their initial choice, Kieran McKenna, who opted to stay at Ipswich.
With Bloom eager for change and Potter attracting interest from Leicester, Hürzeler is set to succeed Chris Coleman as the youngest manager in Premier League history. Coleman was 32 when he took charge at Fulham in 2003.
Born in Houston, Texas, to a Swiss father and German mother, Hürzeler has a diverse background. He played in Bayern Munich’s academy and Germany’s lower leagues before transitioning into coaching. His rise to prominence includes stints as an assistant for Germany’s under-18 and under-20 teams, followed by an assistant coaching role at St Pauli under Timo Schultz.
Hürzeler took over as head coach at St Pauli in December 2022 at the age of 29. He guided the team from the threat of relegation to securing promotion, employing an attacking 3-4-3 formation and recording 10 consecutive wins along the way. His success at such a young age draws comparisons to Nagelsmann, who holds the record as the youngest manager in Bundesliga history at 28.
Despite the comparisons, Hürzeler remains humble, stating, “I must stay humble and walk my own way. I can’t do it the same way because that is the Julian Nagelsmann way, and I try to go the Fabian Hürzeler way.”
