The 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler was named head coach of Brighton on Saturday, making him the youngest full-time manager of a Premier League team in England.
Hurzeler, who led St. Pauli to the Bundesliga second division championship in German football the previous season, has a deal in place with the south coast team that runs through 2027.
Hurzeler, who was born in Texas, will now be leading a Seagulls team that features multiple players who are older than him, such as Danny Welbeck, 33, Lewis Dunk, 32, and James Milner, 38.
But Brighton chairman Tony Bloom said Hurzeler’s work in taking St Pauli to the German top-flight made him a “standout candidate” to succeed Roberto De Zerbi, who left the Amex Stadium at the end of last season.
Hurzeler’s new position will begin as soon as he obtains a work permit, which should happen before Brighton’s team starts preseason training in July.
“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,” Bloom said in a club statement. “That was the initial point of the process to appoint our new head coach.”
His style of play is in line with what we want from a Brighton & Hove Albion team, and I have no doubt that our fans will find it enjoyable.
“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.”
Hurzeler, who took his first coaching role in 2016, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be the new head coach of Brighton and Hove Albion.
“I am really excited to be part of the project because the club has a unique history and a bold vision for the future,” he continued.
