When Brighton lost at home to Crystal Palace in February, Fabian Hurzeler was booed by his own supporters and subjected to chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning". "There are only two options," said the German after the 1-0 defeat by their fierce rivals left his team floundering 14th in the table with one win in 12 Premier League matches. "Give up or keep pushing harder, and that's always the option I choose in my life." Eight months on, Brighton are reaping the benefits of keeping faith with the man who became the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history when he was appointed in June 2024 at the age of 31.
Palace return to Amex Stadium on Sunday ( kick-off) to face opponents who are third in the table after statement wins over defending champions Arsenal and Europa League winners Aston Villa. Hurzeler's stock has rocketed after 11 wins in 18 top-flight games, a run that has propelled the Seagulls back into Europe and left fans - who shouted "you don't know what you're doing" at him just a few months ago - worried that he could be lured away. Following last Saturday's win at Sunderland, there was chat on the post-match phone-ins that Hurzeler, rewarded with a new long-term contract before the end of last season and given £150m to spend on signings in the summer, could be a prime target for a big club looking for a manager.
"You learn more about yourself and the people around you when you are losing games," former Brighton striker Glenn Murray told BBC Sport in reference to last season's poor run. "Hurzeler has come out the other side and the way he has got this group of players performing is exceptional." Scott McCarthy, from the We Are Brighton fan site, said Hurzeler appeared to have lost the crowd to such a degree at one stage last season than even a few wins would not be enough to turn it around. "He looked like a manager who was out of ideas," McCarthy told BBC Sport.
"Leaving the stadium after losing at home to Palace, the only conversation fans were having was: 'he has got to go'. "It's totally different now. It's worked out phenomenally." Will Brighton manage to keep hold of Hurzeler, who has gone from managing in Germany's fifth tier to reported interest, external from Manchester United?
Hurzeler signs to 2029 as Brighton rival elite clubs Hurzeler's Brighton choice and Barber's favourite moment - fans' forum The determination Hurzeler demonstrated in the face of anger from fans following last season's defeat by Palace has been evident throughout his 10-year coaching career. In 2016, after one injury too many following spells in the reserves at Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim and 1860 Munich, the former midfielder gave up playing professionally to accept a player-manager role at German fifth-tier side Pipinsried at the age of 23. It was the start of a coaching journey that has led to the Premier League.
To make ends meet at village club Pipinsried, which is about 30 miles from Munich, football-obsessed Hurzeler worked for an art dealer selling paintings to wealthy Bavarians. In an interview with the Guardian, external in 2024, he revealed he was fired from that job because he was spending too much time watching games. "If you want to sell something to a person, you have to try to convince them by doing something," he said when comparing selling pictures to managing Premier League players.
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