Brighton Confirms Hürzeler Move
First the promotion, then the departure: The move of successful coach Fabian Hürzeler (31) from Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli to Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion is confirmed.
After weeks of speculation, both clubs announced the transfer on Saturday. The Hamburger Abendblatt reported a transfer fee of 7.5 million euros plus bonuses. This makes Hürzeler the most expensive departure in the club’s history, with no German coach having moved abroad for more money so far. “From the start of the selection process, Fabian was one of the outstanding candidates,” said Brighton CEO Tony Bloom. “He caught our attention with his exceptional work at St. Pauli.” Hürzeler himself thanked St. Pauli “for the time we spent together and for what we achieved together. Moving to the Premier League is a dream come true for me.” St. Pauli has yet to announce his replacement.
Hürzeler, who extended his contract with the Hamburg club beyond the summer after months of negotiation in early March, will become the youngest manager in Premier League history at 31. He signed a three-year contract with Brighton until 2027, succeeding Italian Roberto De Zerbi at the club, which finished 11th last season. Nuri Sahin will now be the youngest coach in the upcoming Bundesliga season at Borussia Dortmund.
Hürzeler had been head coach at St. Pauli since December 2022. The Texas-born coach, who also holds German and Swiss citizenship, won 36 of 55 competitive matches and suffered only eight defeats. Last season, Hürzeler led the Brown-and-Whites back to the Bundesliga after a 13-year absence.
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