When Fabian Hurzeler took charge of Brighton & Hove Albion, he declared his ambition to "challenge the establishment" in English football. Two seasons 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 milestones," Hurzeler told Sky Sports, as Brighton prepared for their second ever foray into European competition. The Seagulls have already shown they can punch above their weight, recording victories over the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, taking potshots at Arsenal and Mikel Arteta’s tactical approach, engaging in heated exchanges with Pep Guardiola, and racking up a series of touch‑line suspensions.
All of these incidents underline the undeniable impact the 33‑year‑old has had in his first two years in the Premier League. His fiery presence on the bench has become a hallmark of his proactive, high‑pressing philosophy, guiding Brighton to back‑to‑back eighth‑place finishes. Yet that same intensity has also landed him in trouble before – a reminder of his earlier stint at St Pauli, where he once amassed seven yellow cards before February of a single season. "That won’t change," Hurzeler 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, which kicks off next month, offers Brighton a fresh chance to convert recent progress into actual silverware. While their city rivals Crystal Palace lifted the same trophy in May, Hurzeler’s focus is less about copying that achievement and more about demonstrating that Brighton can compete on several fronts simultaneously. "We set very high standards for ourselves. We want to deliver a season that the supporters will always remember, but we also have to prove as a club that we can handle a congested schedule and still be successful," he explained.
"We constantly talk about taking the next step, growing as an institution, and now we have to show that we can succeed without compromising our style or intensity." After a busy transfer window that saw eleven new faces arrive and the departure of seasoned players such as Carlos Baleba, Jan Paul van Hecke, Danny Welbeck and James Milner, Brighton now boast the fourth‑youngest squad in the Premier League. Hurzeler believes his own relatively young age gives him a distinct advantage when it comes to relating to his players. "I want to stay true to myself, I don’t want to act out a role, and my age helps me understand the squad," he said. "I speak their language because not long ago I was playing at a similar level.
I may not have reached the heights they aspire to, but I know their doubts, fears and ambitions." That empathy will be crucial as Brighton continue to integrate a new wave of promising signings. Central defender Luka Vuskovic, acquired from Tottenham for £50 million, has already proved to be a shrewd investment.
Hurzeler trusts the club’s recruitment model to keep delivering talent, and he relies on his coaching staff to extract the best performances from these newcomers. In the opening three league fixtures of the current season, Brighton have recorded a win, a draw and a loss. Statistically, they have generated more clear‑cut chances (15) and a higher expected goals figure (7.4) than any other side, while only Arsenal (24) and Manchester City (26) have taken fewer shots than Brighton’s 33 attempts. "It’s now our duty to fully integrate these players," Hurzeler noted.
"They are here for a reason, and we have demonstrated in the past that we possess one of the world’s most effective recruitment systems. Their potential is there, and it will soon be evident on the pitch." When Hurzeler replaced Roberto De Zerbi, his appointment was seen as a surprise. After two seasons, however, he is no longer the unknown quantity that arrived in 2022. The rigours of the Premier League have moulded him – from testing his tactics against the world’s best managers to coping with the relentless pressure of a long campaign.
When things go wrong, he looks inward rather than casting blame elsewhere. "I can say I’m a better manager now than I was before, not just because I analyse my mistakes but because I examine my decisions, my development and my progress," he said. "I have an excellent staff, great experts, and solid support from everyone around me." That self‑reflection was put to the test midway through last season when Brighton managed just one win in 13 league matches.
Instead of pointing fingers, Hurzeler took responsibility. "I don’t go home and blame others. If we lose, it’s on me, and I review my choices, the training week, everything, to improve after each game," he explained.
"We turned the slump around by focusing on what we could control, keeping belief alive, and demanding more reliability from the players." The lesson was simple yet vital for a side aspiring to disrupt the Premier League hierarchy: consistency and the ability to win the small battles matter as much as headline‑grabbing victories. "In the Premier League you need reliability, you need to be excellent in the little matches," Hurzeler observed. Committed to building that consistency, Hurzeler signed a new three‑year contract in May, a decision driven by his bond with the club as much 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," he said. "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 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 achieve great things," he affirmed.
"I have that belief, and now we have to prove it on the field." In summary, Fabian Hurzeler has already reshaped Brighton’s identity, turning a club historically viewed as a modest seaside side into a competitive force capable of challenging England’s elite. With a youthful squad, a clear recruitment philosophy, and a manager who blends passion with introspection, the Seagulls are poised to chase their first major trophy in the Conference League while continuing to push for higher league finishes. The upcoming season will test whether the blend of ambition, youthful energy, and tactical discipline can finally deliver the silverware that Hurzeler and the Brighton faithful have been yearning for.