Brighton fans have fond memories of the Italian, hailed as a genius by rivals, but his time on the south coast went sour
Things may have ended on a sour note but there is a reason why a giant picture of a beaming Roberto De Zerbi adorns the wall outside the home dressing room at the Amex Stadium. It was taken in 2023 at the end of the Italian’s first season at Brighton after he had led the club to sixth in the Premier League – their highest finish – and taken them into Europe for the first time.
Three years on, memories of De Zerbi remain strong among Brighton supporters. It is a legacy that Fabian Hürzeler has found hard to emulate since succeeding De Zerbi, who fell out with the owner, Tony Bloom, over squad recruitment.
Although Hürzeler has shown more willingness to work with the tools at his disposal, the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history has struggled to win over fans, partly owing to the raised expectations created by the De Zerbi era. That is something Tottenham fans would find difficult to relate to after their experiences in recent seasons, but De Zerbi, described by Pep Guardiola as “one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years”, can provide fresh hope when they need it most after his appointment on a five-year deal.
