Tottenham vs Brighton in the Premier League at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - Saturday 5.30pm
Brighton have made some shrewd managerial appointments since their rise to the Premier League in 2018.
Chris Hughton sealed top flight promotion and then maintained their status for the first two campaigns in the Premier League.
Brighton chairman and owner Tony Bloom then made the painful decision to part company with the popular and well-respected Hughton and Graham Potter was brought in from Swansea.
Brighton progress under Potter and De Zerbi
Potter continued the upward trajectory and introduced a new style of play for Brighton. It pushed Albion further up the table and by the time Potter left for Chelsea, Brighton were challenging near the top end.
In 2022 De Zerbi arrived and and the Italian soon had Brighton playing some of the best football witnessed at the Amex Stadium.
They finished a record-high of sixth, qualified for the Europa League for the first time in their history and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
The energy sapping Europa League campaign took it's toll and towards the end of De Zerbi's tenure an injury hit Brighton slipped down the table and finished 11th.
De Zerbi out and Hurzeler in
The charismatic De Zerbi left for Marseille and Brighton then surprised all by appointing the youngest ever Premier League manager, Fabian Hurzeler.
The fresh faced German arrived after steering St Pauli to the Bundesliga2 title and immediately coped well in the Premier League.
Brighton finished eighth in his first season in and missed out of European football by a whisker.
This season has had it's challenges but Brighton - with squad availability at the highest it's been for some time - are pushing for Europe again.
Hurzeler has not always been the most popular with the fanbase. After the 1-0 home loss to old rivals Crystal Palace the home supporters were chanting, "You are getting sacked in the morning."
Social media was quite toxic and many wanted the young German gone. Many wanted a return of the De Zerbi days.
But the results have improved, the mood has lifted and Hurzeler takes his team to face De Zerbi's relegation-threatened Tottenham with his stock at an all-time high.
Hurzeler vs De Zerbi statistics
Hurzeler goes about his business in a calmer manner than that of De Zerbi but the statistics stack up in the German's favour.
It's often tricky to compare different managers at different times. The players are different, injuries and contract situations vary and the opposition can be stronger or weaker.
But having said all that, Brighton's win away at Burnley was Hurzeler's 70th Premier League game in charge - the same as De Zerbi managed at Brighton, here's how they stack up against each other.
Hurzeler: W28, D23, L19, 107pts (109 goals for - 96 goals against).
RDZ: W26, D19, L25, 97pts (116GF - 110GA)
De Zerbi is remembered fondly at Brighton and rightly so, but Hurzeler is not doing too bad either you know! Statistics courtesy: @AlbionAnalytics
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