There are 62 players who have stepped on a Premier League pitch so far this season that are older than Brighton & Hove Albion’s head coach Fabian Hurzeler - including five members of his own squad.
With that in mind, and despite his successful spell in Bundesliga 2 with St Pauli - where he steered the team from the relegation zone to title success within 18 months - it was a bold call from the Seagulls to make him the division’s youngest ever permanent manager.
Each of their previous three appointments, Chris Hughton, Graham Potter and Roberto de Zerbi, had improved the sides they inherited but could a 31-year-old rookie, really take them to the next level?
Chairman Tony Bloom and Chief Executive Paul Barber thought so, and it looks as if their faith is going to be rewarded.
Losing just three of his first 15 matches, in a run that saw them face all of the traditional ‘Big Six’, Hurzeler’s Brighton have got off to the best top-flight start in the club’s entire history.
How has the talented German coached them? Let’s take a closer look at his body of work so far…
Instilling a strong work ethic
There is a fresh energy about Hurzeler’s Brighton, perhaps reflecting his own youthful enthusiasm.
Newly promoted Ipswich Town are the only Premier League team to cover more distance per 90 minutes than the Sussex outfit, who are running an average of 112.1km a game.
It is the intensity of their runs which marks out the key difference from what we saw compared to De Zerbi’s men in 2023/24.
Performing at a far higher tempo, the Seagulls are averaging 152.4 sprints per contest.
This ranks them 6th overall; a far cry from the 18th spot they placed in last term when making 123.1 sprints per match.
| Brighton PL 2024/25 | Total | PL rank |
| KM covered per game | 112.1 | 2nd |
|---|---|---|
| Sprints per game | 152.4 | 6th |
| Pressures in the final third per game | 60.4 | 4th |
| Counter pressures in the final third per game | 24.2 | 3rd |
| Pressed sequences | 170 | 3rd |
| Passes per defensive action | 10.4 | 3rd |
They are certainly a better pressing side now.
Ranked 10th and 11th last season for pressures and counter pressures inside the final third, Brighton are now very much masters in that department, closing down higher up the pitch with greater intensity.
Hurzeler’s man-to-man set-up is combative and designed to force teams backwards.
This example from their clash against Southampton shows how they like to pin rival sides back with a wide pressing trap that forces them into going long or making errors.
Bringing 4-4-2 back into fashion
Many people anticipated Hurzeler using the 3-4-3 formation he was synonymous with at St Pauli.
Within that framework he used to ask his middle central defender to step into midfield, creating a 2-4-1-3 shape in the build-up phase.
We are yet to see that tactic deployed at the AMEX Stadium, where the 31-year-old has until now exclusively used a back four.
| Hurzeler's Formations | Matches |
| 4-4-2 | 6 |
|---|---|
| 4-2-3-1 | 6 |
| 4-3-3 | 1 |
In recent weeks the American-born head coach has enjoyed experimenting with a 4-4-2.
In that system he has started three attackers who could all be described as central strikers; Danny Welbeck, Joao Pedro and Georgino Rutter, along with natural left winger Kaoru Mitoma.
It makes the shape a little lop-sided but together they create some wonderful angles.
Veteran Welbeck stays down the middle, but the other two front men rotate who joins him as the second striker.
Both able to operate comfortably in the pockets, Joao Pedro and Rutter readily interchange as an inverted No.10, to the left and right of centre respectively.
With one central midfielder sitting and the other allowed to push on, the Seagulls are very much a 5-5 or 4-1-5 in their shape when taking a front foot approach.
On occasion you may even see both full backs progress, making it a 3-7 set-up.
This is their average position map for the season so far…
When discussing this tactic earlier on this season, Hurzeler told Sky Sports, "You occupy opponents more if you have more players in the last line. Then you create more dynamism with deep runs, and how many players can create deep runs.
"What I always try to do is increase the percentage of scoring, and you do that by attacking the box, by creating dynamics with deep runs."
Matt O’Riley’s winning goal against Manchester City was a great example of how his ambitious mindset troubles even the very best opponents.
From a neat 1-2 between Joao Pedro and Welbeck, the former Celtic man emerged from a pocket to drive beyond the last man.
He is a manager that likes to get plenty of bodies into the box, and the system facilitates that.
When a full back gets on the ball out wide, he encourages all four of his front line to get themselves into the danger zone, mixing up the positions they take.
From this clip (below) Mitoma scored at the far post, but the entire quartet were in advanced positions when Lamptey crossed.
Less fixated on possession
One major shift brought in by the young German head coach is the efficiency of Brighton & Hove Albion’s distribution.
Predecessor De Zerbi wanted to exert full control, and his Seagulls side were second only to Manchester City when it came to periods of patient, sustained possession.
Far more interested in attacking at speed, Hurzeler has dramatically altered his players’ outlook.
| Brighton per 90 | De Zerbi 23/24 | Hurzeler 24/25 |
| Possession percentage | 60.2 | 52.7 |
|---|---|---|
| Sequences of 10+ passes | 19 | 10.7 |
| Successful passes | 551.2 | 404.9 |
| Successful passes in own half | 309.8 | 221.5 |
| Successful passes in opp. half | 241.4 | 183.4 |
Their sequences of ten or more passes have practically halved since he took over, and their overall share of the ball has dipped markedly from 60.2 per cent to 52.7 per cent.
In essence Hurzeler wants to have more possession than his opponent, but there is less of a fixation on it now.
Brighton’s challenging early season fixture schedule has potentially impacted the data, but they are content to play on transitions when required.
A work in progress
From a defensive standpoint Hurzeler’s high line has been exposed a little too regularly after squeezing up to congest space.
This goal from Nottingham Forest saw the visitors play through a congested middle third before releasing a runner beyond the last defender.
Amad Diallo, Brennan Johnson and Kai Havertz also punished Hurzeler’s high line with goals that were made in a similar fashion.
West Ham United are the only team to have faced more shots from fast breaks than Brighton (16) who have conceded a joint-division high four goals from those counters.
Moving forwards, it will be important for the German to find new ways to solidify that issue without compromising his beliefs.
Losing 11 points from winning positions across their opening 15 Premier League matches, he will also have to look at steadying his teams’ game management.
The way they gave up a 2-0 lead away to Leicester City was a good example of why they may need to adapt to game-state more often.
Inside the final five minutes they left themselves 3v3 at the back, with Jamie Vardy punishing them with a late strike.
Moments later Igor Julio decided to try and carry the ball out of defence, running into traffic, when the safer option would have been to look for a longer pass.
He lost possession and the Foxes equalised.
Can Hurzeler strike a better balance by changing the system on occasion, or by altering the roles of certain players when Brighton are in a position of strength?
As a super-positive coach he may not want to, but a little more prudency may earn them extra points.
After 13 games they had conceded 4.19 fewer goals than Opta’s expected goals indicate they should have done.
Since then, some of that good fortune has run out with the figure dipping to the concession of 1.15 fewer goals than expected.
Tactical adjustments could be on the horizon.
A flying start
Brighton took a risk by appointing somebody with such limited experience, but Hurzeler appears very capable of handling the challenge.
Mentally strong and tactically bright, he is proving to be more than a match for some of his more experienced dug-out adversaries.
The German, who turns 32 in late February, is still getting to know his own players and the division.
So, to be challenging for a top four spot over a third of the way into the campaign is a terrific achievement.
Injuries and a tough schedule have also made it more difficult, so the rookie must be commended.
His Brighton side has a clear identity. They are also hard to beat, industrious, and very brave in their outlook.
With full buy-in from his players and a happy fanbase, these are exciting times for the Seagulls.
