Roberto De Zerbi to Depart Brighton Following Final Match Against Manchester United
Roberto De Zerbi will leave Brighton after their final match of the season against Manchester United on Sunday.
The 44-year-old Italian, linked to prestigious clubs such as Manchester United and Bayern Munich, joined Brighton in September 2022 following Graham Potter’s move to Chelsea. De Zerbi quickly made an impact, guiding the team to a historic sixth-place finish.
This achievement secured Brighton a spot in the Europa League, where they were eliminated by Roma in the last 16. Currently, Brighton sits 10th in the Premier League, having struggled recently with a six-game winless streak.
Brighton has been preparing for De Zerbi’s potential departure and is reportedly interested in Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna. Chelsea, who recently won 2-1 at Brighton’s home ground, has also been linked with McKenna.
De Zerbi expressed his emotions in a statement, saying, “I am very sad to be leaving Brighton, but I am also very proud of what my players and staff have achieved with the support of everyone at the club and our amazing fans in the past two historical seasons.”
He continued, “We have agreed to end my time at Brighton so that the club and I can continue to work in the way that suits each of us best, following our own ideas and visions, as well as our work and human values. I have really enjoyed an intense and challenging two years working in the Premier League, not least competing in four major competitions this season. Leaving now provides me with time to take a break before deciding on my future plans.”
Speculation about De Zerbi’s future has been ongoing for some time. In March, he mentioned the uncertainty regarding a new contract, stating, “We didn’t find the agreement… we have to speak with the club.”
Brighton’s owner, Tony Bloom, acknowledged De Zerbi’s contributions, saying, “Roberto has given us two excellent seasons of service, leading the club to new heights, including our first-ever European campaign. We have mutually agreed to end Roberto’s contract at a time that suits both parties, allowing us the earliest opportunity to plan for next season and Roberto plenty of time to consider his next move and his future. I am sure our fans will give Roberto and his staff a wonderful and fully-deserved send-off at the Amex before, during, and after tomorrow’s match. In the meantime, I’d like to thank Roberto and his staff for all their hard work in the past two seasons.”
De Zerbi’s coaching team, including Andrea Maldera, Ricard Segarra, Marcattilio Marcattilii, Vincenzo Teresa, Agostino Tibaudi, Marcello Quinto, and Enrico Venturelli, will also depart the club.
