Roberto De Zerbi was the head coach of Brighton & Hove Albion from September 2022 to May 2024, overseeing the club's highest Premier League finish and their first season in Europe. 

Born in Brescia, Italy, De Zerbi spent much of his 13-year playing career in the Italian lower leagues as a midfielder, before retiring in 2013.

His first coaching role was with amateur Serie D side Darfo Boario in November 2013. 

He went on to manage Palermo, Benevento and Sassuolo in Serie A, where he developed a reputation for possession-based, attacking football.

De Zerbi joined Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in May 2021 and, in his one season at the club, became the first Italian manager to lift the Ukrainian Super Cup.

He was appointed head coach of Brighton on 18 September 2022, replacing Graham Potter, who was recruited by Chelsea.

De Zerbi's brand of exciting, attacking football helped Brighton to finish sixth in 2022/23 - the club's highest ever finish - and qualify for Europe for the first time. They also reached the FA Cup semi-finals, losing a penalty shootout to Manchester United.

In the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League, Brighton topped a group that contained Ajax, Marseille and AEK Athens, before they were knocked out by Roma in the last 16.

That European adventure took a toll on the Seagulls' league form and they finished 11th. De Zerbi left the club by mutual agreement at the end of the 2023/24 season.