Chelsea’s managerial pursuit is starting to mirror the club’s on-the-pitch form. For a second time, they have come up short in their search for a new manager – this time, Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler.
Blues fans will be fully aware of the club’s relationship with Brighton over the years. Marc Cucurella, Joao Pedro, Robert Sanchez, Moises Caicedo and youngster Shim Mhueka all joined Chelsea from Brighton.
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Levi Colwill has spent time on loan at The Amex, Liam Rosenior is a former Brighton player and coach and Graham Potter was brought to Chelsea following his brilliant spell in charge as manager of the Seagulls.
The link goes on. According to a report from TeamTalk, Chelsea were among the clubs interested in the current Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler. The American-born German gaffer has starred at Brighton.
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After a couple of stints in Germany, Brighton made the bold move to hire Hurzeler in the summer of 2024. He is still only 33, easily the youngest manager in the Premier League and yet, he has enjoyed success.
He’s won more than a third of his games as Brighton manager, clocking up 37 in 85 matches. Brighton look good to pip Chelsea in the race for European football, with the Seagulls now sitting in eighth place.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler watching match
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
TeamTalk say Chelsea had done background work on the young Brighton gaffer and were ready to make a move for the German. Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen were also considering the Brighton boss.
But according to BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella among other sources, Hurzeler has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract at Brighton. Nothing has been confirmed, but Hurzeler looks set to stay put.
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While the belief is that Chelsea need an experienced manager to get the players onside, Hurzeler would have been a solid appointment. A manager with Premier League experience, and is proven at this level.
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But he has signed on at Brighton and becomes the second manager to reject Chelsea. It comes after the Blues reportedly made an approach for Porto manager Francesco Farioli, after winning the Liga NOS title.
However, Andre Villas-Boas has rejected Chelsea’s move for Farioli, with the former Blues manager now Porto’s president. The front-runners for the job are still Marco Silva, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola.
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