Brighton & Hove Albion have announced that head coach Roberto De Zerbi will leave the club by mutual agreement after their final match of the season against Manchester United.
De Zerbi joined Brighton in September 2022, following the departure of Graham Potter, and oversaw the club's highest top-flight finish last season as he guided them to sixth position before leading the team to the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League.
“Roberto has given us two excellent seasons of service in which he has led the club to new heights, not least our first ever European campaign which will live long in the memory of Albion fans," Brighton chairman, Tony Bloom, told the club's official website.
“We have mutually agreed to end Roberto’s contract at a time that suits both parties allowing us the earliest opportunity to plan for next season, and Roberto plenty of time to consider his next move and his future.
“I am sure our fans will give Roberto and his staff a wonderful and fully deserved send off at the Amex before, during and after tomorrow’s match.
“In the meantime, I’d like to thank Roberto and his staff for all their hard work in the past two seasons. They all leave our club on good terms and with our very best wishes for the future.”
TV Info - Broadcasters
De Zerbi said: “I am very sad to be leaving Brighton, but I am very proud of what my players and staff have achieved with the support of everyone at the club and our amazing fans in the past two historical seasons.
“We have agreed to end my time at Brighton so that the club and I can continue to work in the way that suits each of us best, following our own ideas and visions, as well as our work and human values.
“I have really enjoyed an intense and challenging two years working in the Premier League, not least competing in four major competitions this season. Leaving now provides me with time to take a break before deciding on my future plans.”
Brighton added that De Zerbi's assistants Andrea Maldera, Ricard Segarra, Marcattilio Marcattilii, Vincenzo Teresa, Agostino Tibaudi, Marcello Quinto and Enrico Venturelli will also leave with him, while club coaches Andrew Crofts and Jack Stern will remain.
De Zerbi's impact at Brighton
Brighton were enjoying a fine season when the Italian took charge on 18 September 2022, as they sat fourth in the league table upon his arrival.
De Zerbi's first match in charge was a sign of things to come under him as they produced superb attacking football in a 3-3 with Liverpool.
And although they couldn't win any of their next four matches, their next encounter would be a memorable result as they superbly dismantled Chelsea 4-1, giving former Seagulls boss Potter a torrid return to the Amex.
By the end of 2022/23, Brighton thrashed Liverpool, beat Chelsea for a second time, and defeated Manchester United 1-0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 6-0, Arsenal 3-0 while drawing 1-1 with champions Manchester City, a match that sealed their place in the Europa League.
Although they've endured a tougher campaign in 2023/24, having sold Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo to Liverpool and Chelsea respectively as well as injuries to key players such as Kaoru Mitoma and Solly March as they sit in 10th with one match to go, Brighton still enjoyed fine victories this season as they beat Man Utd 3-1 and Tottenham Hotspur 4-2.
And in the Europa League, De Zerbi masterminded victories against Ajax both home and away as the Seagulls reached the round of 16 where they lost to Roma.
