LIVERPOOL: Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler insisted he would stay “humble” after the Premier League’s youngest manager marked his debut with a 3-0 victory at Everton on Saturday.
Aged 31 years and 173 days, Hurzeler is the youngest permanent boss in Premier League history following his arrival from St. Pauli to replace Roberto De Zerbi in the close-season.
The German is the first manager to be born after the Premier League started in 1992 and is seven years younger than Brighton midfielder James Milner.
Despite his tender years in comparison to his Premier League peers, Hurzeler made a flying start as 10-man Everton were brushed aside at Goodison Park.
Goals from Kaoru Mitoma, Danny Welbeck and Simon Adingra fired Brighton, while Everton were hampered by Ashley Young’s red card.
“I’m very happy, it’s a good start but nothing more and it’s important to stay humble after this,” Hurzeler said.
“It’s a very good feeling but I don’t want to talk about myself, the players deserved this. They worked hard in pre-season and I’m very proud of them.”
Hurzeler became the youngest head coach in the German second tier when he was hired by St. Pauli aged 29 in December 2022.
He hauled the club away from the relegation zone and led them to promotion to the Bundesliga last season, catching the eye of Brighton owner Tony Bloom in the process.
Texas-born Hurzeler holds German, Swiss and American citizenship, but he already appears at home with the club from England’s south-coast.
“It was a good result, very intense. In some moments we suffered but after a time we tried to control the game, had good chances, then went 1-0 up,” Hurzeler said.
“In the end the clean sheet was important and we showed attitude and character.”
Hurzeler’s biggest issue was handling the disappointment of new signing Yankuba Minteh, who was causing Everton problems before a head injury forced him off in the first half against his wishes.
“He was disappointed but in the end we are disappointed for the player and can’t take any risks, the health of the player is more important and we were responsible for that,” the Seagulls boss said.
“We have to keep looking at him and how he reacts. I am confident he will be back next week. He had a great impact but I judge my offensive players on how they work off the ball.”
Brighton’s ‘humble’ Hurzeler makes instant impact as Premier League’s youngest boss
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Brighton’s ‘humble’ Hurzeler makes instant impact as Premier League’s youngest boss
- Aged 31 years and 173 days, Hurzeler is the youngest permanent boss in Premier League history following his arrival from St. Pauli
- The German is the first manager to be born after the Premier League started in 1992 and is seven years younger than Brighton midfielder James Milner
Brendan Rodgers joins Saudi club Al Qadsiah
- Former Celtic and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has joined Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah as head coach, seven weeks after resigning his job at the struggling Scottish outfit
RIYADH: Former Celtic and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has joined Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah as head coach, seven weeks after resigning his job at the struggling Scottish outfit.
Rodgers, 52, left Celtic in acrimonious circumstances in late October after criticizing the Hoops board and hitting out at their transfer market signings, leading the club’s principal shareholder Dermot Desmond to describe him as “divisive, misleading and self-serving.”
Al Qadsiah, owned by Aramco, are currently fifth in the Saudi league and sacked head coach Michel Gonzalez on Sunday.
Northern Irishman Rodgers was recruited by the former CEO of Celtic’s arch-rivals Rangers, James Bisgrove, who now holds the same role at Al Qadsiah.
Bisgrove described Rodgers’ arrival as a “landmark moment for the club.”
Rodgers will be in place for the January transfer window when the club is expected to seek to strengthen their squad.
Italy international Mateo Retegui and former Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez are currently the biggest names in their ranks.
Rodgers led Liverpool to a runner-up finish in the Premier League in the 2013-2014 season and won the FA Cup with Leicester in 2021.
In two spells at Celtic he won the league four times, the Scottish Cup on three occasions and the League Cup four times.
Former manager Martin O’Neill steadied the ship at Celtic on an interim basis following the departure of Rodgers, but new French coach Wilfried Nancy has lost his first three matches.
