Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler: How an art dealer went from boos to hero

From boos to renewed belief

Brighton’s home loss to Crystal Palace in February brought boos from the stands and chants calling for Hurzeler to be sacked. Scott McCarthy of the We Are Brighton fan site said supporters had reached a point where they believed even several wins might not change their minds.

A coaching path from Germany

Hurzeler’s coaching career began in Germany’s fifth tier and has led him to the Premier League. Over a decade, he worked through setbacks and learned from other coaches, including Ange Postecoglou and Roberto de Zerbi.

Born in Houston, Texas, Hurzeler moved to Germany when he was two. He said in a 2024 Guardian interview that he was fired from an earlier job because he spent too much time watching matches.

Building a team in his image

Hurzeler’s first season at Brighton included a 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest. After a 4-2 loss at Chelsea in September 2024, former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown called him “wet behind the ears” on BBC’s Final Score.

McCarthy said Hurzeler recognized that his approach was not working and tried something different. He described the current Brighton team as more reflective of the manager, with an intense pressing style.

Interest and questions ahead

After Brighton’s win at Sunderland, discussion on post-match phone-ins raised the possibility that Hurzeler could attract a big club seeking a manager. He has reportedly been linked with Manchester United if the club decides to replace Michael Carrick.

Brighton rewarded Hurzeler with a new long-term contract before the end of last season and gave him £150m to spend on summer signings. One fan argued he needs two-and-a-half years to build a squad, while Palace are due back at the Amex Stadium on Sunday for a 14:00 BST kick-off.