When Fabian Hurzeler took the reins as Brighton & Hove Albion’s head coach, he announced a clear mission: to "challenge the establishment" of English football. Two years later, the question is whether he has delivered on that promise.
"Last season we did it, maybe not throughout the whole campaign, but we certainly achieved a lot of memorable moments," Hurzeler told Sky Sports, as Brighton prepared for only their second ever foray into European competition. The Seagulls have already toppled giants such as Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, taken aim at Arsenal’s tactics and even sparred verbally with Pep Guardiola.
Their combative style has also earned Hurzeler a series of touch‑line bans – a reminder that his passion can sometimes spill over. At 33, the German’s intensity from the dugout has become a hallmark of his proactive approach, guiding Brighton to back‑to‑back eighth‑place finishes in the Premier League. That success has not come without controversy; during his earlier spell at St Pauli, he amassed seven yellow cards before February, a record that hinted at his fiery temperament.
"It definitely won’t change," he affirmed. "I want to be a winner, I want to bring trophies to Brighton, and I want to achieve something special together with the fans." The upcoming UEFA Conference League, kicking off next month, offers the club a fresh chance to convert recent progress into silverware. While rivals Crystal Palace lifted the same trophy in May, Hurzeler is less concerned with copying their achievement and more focused on proving that Brighton can compete on several fronts simultaneously.
"We set high standards for ourselves. We want to deliver a season that the supporters will always remember, but we also need to demonstrate that we can handle a congested fixture list and still succeed," he explained. "We always talk about taking the next step, growing as a club, and showing that we can win without sacrificing our identity or intensity." This summer Brighton underwent a significant overhaul, bringing in eleven new faces while saying goodbye to stalwarts such as Carlos Baleba, Jan Paul van Hecke, Danny Welbeck and James Milner.
The resulting squad is now the fourth‑youngest in the Premier League. Hurzeler believes his own youth works to his advantage when it comes to relating to these players.
"I want to be myself, I don’t want to play a role, and my age helps me understand the squad," he said. "I speak their language because I was just like them not long ago.
I may not have played at their level, but I get their doubts, fears and ambitions." That empathy will be crucial as the Seagulls integrate another batch of promising signings, including centre‑back Luka Vuskovic, a £50 million acquisition from Tottenham who has already shown his worth. Hurzeler trusts Brighton’s recruitment model and his coaching staff to extract the maximum from these talents. In the first three league matches of the new season, Brighton recorded a win, a draw and a loss, yet they generated more big chances (15) and a higher expected goals figure (7.4) than any other side.
Only Arsenal (24) and Manchester City (26) have taken fewer shots than Brighton’s 33. "It’s now our duty to fully integrate these newcomers. They’re here for a reason, and we’ve proven that our recruitment system is among the best worldwide.
Their potential is there, and they will showcase it," Hurzeler asserted. When he replaced Roberto De Zerbi, Hurzeler was seen as a surprise appointment, but after two seasons he is no longer the unknown quantity.
The rigours of Premier League football have moulded him, pitting him against world‑class managers and testing his resilience over a long campaign. Yet when setbacks arise, he looks inward.
"I can say I’m a better manager now than I was before, not just because I analyse my mistakes but also because I evaluate my decisions, my progress and my development," he explained. "I have fantastic staff, experts and support around me, and a great group of players with strong personalities." That mindset was put to the test midway through last season when Brighton managed just one win in 13 league games.
Rather than pointing fingers, Hurzeler took full responsibility. "I don’t go home blaming anyone. If we lose, it’s on me.
I reflect on my choices, on the training week, and I try to improve after every match—that’s how I operate," he said. He believes the turnaround came from focusing on controllable factors, maintaining belief and demanding greater consistency from his players.
The lesson was simple yet vital for a team aspiring to disrupt the Premier League hierarchy. "In the Premier League you need reliability; you need to win the small battles," Hurzeler noted.
Committed to finding that consistency, Hurzeler signed a new three‑year contract in May. His decision was driven as much by his bond with the club as by its potential. "I see my future here, which is why I extended my contract.
From day one I felt part of a family. You don’t abandon family; you want to achieve something together, to take the next step, to grow as a club, and I want to be part of that journey," he said. He remains convinced that the next milestone is within reach. "I still feel the journey isn’t over; we’re in the middle of it and we can accomplish great things," he affirmed.
"I have that belief, and now we have to prove it on the pitch."