Brighton's U.S.-born Hurzeler is youngest PL boss
United States-born Fabian Hürzeler has become the youngest permanent head coach in Premier League history with his appointment at Brighton.
Hürzeler, 31, joins from German side St. Pauli, whom he guided to the Bundesliga after a 13-year absence this season.
He has signed a three-year contract with Brighton and will begin working as soon as his work permit is cleared.
“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,” Brighton chairman Tony Bloom said.
“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.”
Brighton’s statement announcing Hürzeler’s appointment said he will be officially unveiled at a news conference on July 2.
Several players on Brighton’s squad will be older than their incoming head coach. James Milner, 38, Danny Welbeck, 33, Pascal Gross, 33, and Lewis Dunk, 32, were all born before Hürzeler, among others.
The manager will not take the record for the youngest person to coach a Premier League game as Ryan Mason took charge of a Tottenham match aged 29 during a brief interim stint in 2021.
Hürzeler, who was born in Houston to a Swiss father and German mother, had spells as the assistant coach of the Germany under-18 and under-20 sides before taking charge of St. Pauli midway through the 2022-23 season.
The club were languishing near the relegation spots when Hürzeler took over, but under his stewardship they finished a respectable fifth.
The next year — Hürzeler’s first full season as manager — ended with St. Pauli lifting the 2.Bundesliga title on the final day of the season.
He replaces Roberto De Zerbi, who left the south coast club at the end of the season after 1½ years at the club.
