When Fabian Hurzeler took the reins as Brighton & Hove Albion's head coach, he declared his ambition to "challenge the establishment" of English football. Two years later, the question remains: has he delivered on that promise?
"Last season we achieved that," Hurzeler told Sky Sports, pointing to a campaign that saw Brighton qualify for European competition for only the second time in the club's history. The Seagulls not only secured a place in the UEFA Conference League, they also recorded memorable victories over giants such as Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, while publicly questioning the tactical approaches of Arsenal and its manager Mikel Arteta. Their confrontations with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side and a string of disciplinary sanctions – including several touchline bans – have underscored Hurzeler's fiery presence in the Premier League. At 33, his enthusiasm on the touchline has become a hallmark of a proactive, high‑pressing philosophy that has propelled Brighton to consecutive eighth‑place finishes.
Yet that same intensity has also landed him in trouble before; during his stint at St Pauli he amassed seven yellow cards before February of that season. "That won’t change," he said unapologetically. "I want to be a winner, I want to win things for Brighton, I want to achieve something special together with the fans." The upcoming Conference League, which kicks off next month, offers a fresh chance to convert recent progress into actual silverware. Brighton watched rivals Crystal Palace lift the trophy in May, but for Hurzeler the aim is less about copying that success and more about proving that the Seagulls can compete on multiple fronts without compromising their identity.
"We set high standards for ourselves. We want a season that the supporters will always remember, but we also need to show as a club that we can handle a heavy fixture list and still be successful," he explained. "We always talk about taking the next step, growing as a club, and now we have to demonstrate that we can achieve results without losing our style and intensity." The squad has undergone a major overhaul this summer. Eleven new faces have arrived, while long‑serving players such as Carlos Baleba, Jan Paul van Hecke, Danny Welbeck and James Milner have departed.
The result is the fourth‑youngest roster in the Premier League. Hurzeler believes his own relative youth gives him an edge in communicating with and motivating these emerging talents.
"I want to be myself, I don’t want to play a role, and my age definitely helps in understanding the players," he said. "I speak their language because I was there not long ago. I didn’t play at their level, but I understand their doubts, fears and aspirations." That empathy will be crucial as Brighton integrates another batch of promising signings, including centre‑back Luka Vuskovic, who arrived from Tottenham for a reported £50 million and is already being praised as a shrewd investment. Hurzeler trusts the club’s recruitment model and his coaching staff to unlock the potential of these newcomers.
In the first three league matches of the new season, Brighton have recorded a win, a draw and a loss. Statistically, they have created more clear‑cut chances (15) and posted a higher expected‑goals figure (7.4) than any other side, while only Arsenal (24) and Manchester City (26) have attempted fewer shots (33).
"It’s now our responsibility to integrate these players fully. They are here for a reason, and we have proved that our recruitment system is one of the best in the world. They will show their quality," Hurzeler asserted. His appointment was initially seen as a surprise, replacing Roberto De Zerbi, but after two seasons he is no longer the unknown quantity that arrived in 2022.
The rigours of the Premier League – battling world‑class managers and coping with a long, demanding schedule – have shaped his development. When things go wrong, Hurzeler looks inward rather than assigning blame elsewhere. "I can say I’m a better manager now than I was before, not only because I reflect on my mistakes but also on my decisions and my overall progress," he said. "I have great staff, experts, and support from everyone around me, and that collective strength helps me improve." That mindset was put to the test midway through last season when Brighton endured a dreadful run of just one win in 13 league games.
Rather than pointing fingers, Hurzeler took full responsibility. "I’m not going home and blaming others.
If we lose, it’s my responsibility. I reflect on my decisions, on the training week, and I try to get better after every game. That’s how I operate," he explained.
He believes the turnaround came from focusing on controllable factors, maintaining belief, and demanding greater reliability from the squad. The lesson, simple but vital, is that consistency in the Premier League often decides outcomes. "In the Premier League you need reliability, you need to win the small matches," Hurzeler noted.
Committed to delivering that consistency, he signed a new three‑year contract in May. The decision was driven as much by his personal bond with the club as by its potential. "I see my future here, which is why I extended my contract. When I arrived, I felt integrated into a family.
You don’t leave your family; you want to achieve something together, take the next step, grow as a club, and I want to be part of that journey," he said. Looking ahead, Hurzeler remains convinced that the best is still to come.
"I still feel the journey isn’t over, we’re in the middle of it, and we can achieve great things. I have that belief, and now we have to prove it on the pitch," he affirmed.
Brighton’s upcoming fixtures, including a high‑profile clash with Coventry City on Sunday, will provide further opportunities to test the squad’s depth and resolve. With a blend of youthful exuberance, strategic recruitment, and a manager who refuses to shy away from the spotlight, the Seagulls appear poised to challenge the traditional hierarchy of English football and, perhaps for the first time, add a trophy to their cabinet.