Fabian Hürzeler: Everything You Need to Know About 31-Year-Old Set to Become New Brighton Boss

• Brighton and Hove Albion are on the verge of appointing German tactician Fabian Hurzeler as their new manager
• The Seagulls parted ways with Roberto De Zerbi at the end of the 2023/2024 season after two years
• Latest reports suggest Hurzeler is making positive strides towards joining the Premier League club

The Premier League is set to be graced by one of the youngest managers ever, as 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler is reportedly on the verge of becoming the new Brighton and Hove Albion boss.

Brighton has engaged in positive talks with Hurzeler’s current club, St Pauli, and a deal is reportedly in its final stages.

The BBC reports that the US-born tactician has already secured a work permit.

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If he successfully takes over at the American Express Stadium, he will be the youngest manager ever in the Premier League.

But who exactly is Fabian Hurzeler? Sports Brief highlights the key things fans should know about the manager ahead of his Premier League move.

What to know about Fabian Hurzeler

Took charge of St Pauli at just 29

The Texas-born manager, who had an underwhelming career as a player, has always wanted to become a football manager.

He started out in the amateur ranks, serving as a joint player and head coach at FC Pipinsried.

Four years later, he joined Timo Schultz at St. Pauli, working as the German’s assistant at first, before eventually taking the job on interim basis in 2022. At the time, he became the youngest person to manage a Bundesliga 2 side at only 29.

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Hurzeler is a huge fan of a three-man backline

According to the Bundesliga website, Hurzeler has revolutionalised St Pauli with his modern tactics.

Notably, he prefers to play with a back three, with his preferred formations being the classic 3-4-3 or 5-2-3, which utilizes wingbacks as make-shift midfielders.

This formation is quite familiar at Brighton, as the club’s two previous managers - Graham Potter and De Zerbi - have used it in the Premier League.

He turned St Pauli into a formidable club

Former Liverpool midfielder Emre Can, who was with Hurzeler at the Bayern Youth academy, tipped him to become a great coach.

Can’s prediction seems to have come true, as the St Pauli tactician has seen his credentials soar after turning the club from relegation favourites to winning the Bundesliga 2 title and earning a promotion to the German top flight.

He will manage 6 players older than him at Brighton

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Hurzeler is set for some awkward times in the Brighton dressing room, as he will manage at least six players who were born before him.

The oldest of the lot is James Milner, 38, who was retained by the Seagulls for the upcoming season.

Others are Jason Steele (33), Danny Welbeck (33), Pascal Gross (32), Lewis Dunk (32)and Joel Veltman (32).

He knows how to win games in succession

One of the hardest things to do in the Premier League is winning games consistently.

This proved to be the difference for Manchester City in their last two title triumphs, as they went on impressive winning runs to overcome Arsenal in the title race.

Hurzeler knows a thing or two about stringing up good results, and this was evident last season when he went on a 10-game winning streak with St Pauli - becoming only the second manager to achieve this feat in the Bundesliga 2.

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Milos Kerkez linked to Manchester United

Sports Brief also highlighted some facts about Milos Kerkez, the left-back who has been linked with Manchester United.

United are in dire need of a solution at left-back, especially with Luke Shaw’s consistent injury troubles.