BRIGHTON AND MANAGER ROBERTO DE ZERBI MUTUALLY AGREE TO PART WAYS AFTER FINAL GAME ON SUNDAY
After two seasons in East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi will leave his role as head coach of the club after the final Premier League match of the season against Manchester United, the club confirmed on Saturday.
The 44-year-old will take charge of his final game with the club on Sunday as Albion welcome the Red Devils to the Amex Stadium. De Zerbi was appointed as Brighton’s head coach ahead of the 2022/23 season following Graham Potter’s departure to Chelsea and is now set to exit the club only 12 months after he guided Brighton to its highest ever top flight finish last season.
Not only did De Zerbi steer Brighton to a 6th-placed finish in the league last season which got them into Europe for the first time in club history but also led them to the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League earlier this season.
Both Albion and De Zerbi confirmed that the parting of ways was decided mutually.
“I am very sad to be leaving Brighton,” said the Brescia-born manager. “But I am very proud of what my players and staff have achieved with the support of everyone at the club and our amazing fans in the past two historical seasons.”
“We have agreed to end my time at Brighton so that the club and I can continue to work in the way that suits each of us best, following our own ideas and visions, as well as our work and human values. I have really enjoyed an intense and challenging two years working in the Premier League, not least competing in four major competitions this season. Leaving now provides me with time to take a break before deciding on my future plans.”
The club confirmed that De Zerbi’s coaching staff, which includes Andrea Maldera, Ricard Segarra, Marcattilio Marcattilii, Vincenzo Teresa, Agostino Tibaudi, Marcello Quinto, and Enrico Venturelli will also be leaving alongside him. Club coaches Andrew Crofts and Jack Stern will stay on, however, and are thought to have a part in Brighton’s plans for the future.
Brighton and Hove Albion owner and chairman, Tony Bloom, said of De Zerbi’s departure in a statement released by the team: “Roberto has given us two excellent seasons of service in which he has led the club to new heights, not least our first ever European campaign which will live long in the memory of Albion fans.”
“We have mutually agreed to end Roberto’s contract at a time that suits both parties allowing us the earliest opportunity to plan for next season, and Roberto plenty of time to consider his next move and his future. I am sure our fans will give Roberto and his staff a wonderful and fully deserved send off at the Amex before, during and after tomorrow’s match.”
“In the meantime, I’d like to thank Roberto and his staff for all their hard work in the past two seasons. They all leave our club on good terms and with our very best wishes for the future.”
Brighton will now begin an immediate search for De Zerbi’s replacement, with more than a few reputable managers set to be available this summer. Some of the top candidates linked to the Brighton job include former Manchester United coach and current Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna and OGC Nice manager Francesco Farioli.
The United Stand’s Sam Cohen reported on Saturday that the Seagulls are set to hijack Farioli, who has reportedly already agreed personal terms with Dutch giants Ajax as their next manager. Farioli worked with De Zerbi as his assistant at both Benevento and Sassuolo and was particularly recommended by De Zerbi to the hierarchy at the club.
With more than a few comings and goings this summer, Brighton are expected to make a swift appointment for their head coaching position after the season concludes this Sunday and should have a new manager before UEFA Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany next month.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: James Boyes. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.