Brighton & Hove Albion have appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their new Head Coach on a four-year contract.
De Zerbi succeeds Graham Potter as Brighton manager just over a week-and-a-half after Potter left for Chelsea, with the Italian’s move coming just two months after he decided to resign as manager of Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk due to the worsening Russian invasion of the country.
The Italian consequently left Shakhtar with the club sat top of the Ukrainian Premier League.
De Zerbi has signed a four-year contract which will see him in place as Head Coach until June 2026.
Speaking about the decision to appoint De Zerbi as manager following completion of contract negotiations, Chairman, Tony Bloom said that he was “thrilled” to sign the 43 year-old Italian as Potter’s successor with the Seagulls currently sat fourth in the Premier League.
Bloom proceeded to explain why De Zerbi was the club’s preferred choice of manager as he commented: “Roberto’s teams play an exciting and courageous brand of football, and I am confident his style and tactical approach will suit our existing squad superbly.”
Brighton’s Technical Director, David Weir meanwhile is “delighted” at the new managerial appointment but insisted that De Zerbi has demonstrated “undoubted ability” as a manager, during which he guided Foggia to Serie C Coppa Italia title in 2016 then Shakhtar Donetsk to 2021 Ukrainian Cup.
Weir though was particularly impressed by De Zerbi’s work at Italy’s Sassuolo as he took the Italian club to eighth place in 2019-20 & 2020-21 Serie A seasons, albeit missing out on UEFA Europa Conference League qualification to AS Roma on goal difference in his final season as manager.
Weir also pledged to provide “all the support” that De Zerbi needs to implement “his coaching philosophy and help the players continue their brilliant start to the season.”
Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive, Paul Barber meanwhile clarified that the board had “looked at a range of excellent candidates but Roberto was our number one choice from the start and the only person we spoke to.”
Barber proceeded to explain why the board decided to appoint De Zerbi as manager as he said: “We feel Roberto is the ideal cultural and technical fit for Brighton & Hove Albion, and the right person to continue the club’s progress and work with this outstanding group of players.”
Aside from Foggia, Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk, De Zerbi has also managed; Darfo Boario, Palermo and Benevento.
Brighton have opted not to release an official statement from De Zerbi as a mark of respect for Queen Elizabeth II as the UK nears the end of national mourning, with the Italian instead set to speak officially on Tuesday 20 September at a press conference.
De Zerbi’s first match as Brighton manager will take place on Saturday 1 October in an UK-wide untelevised trip to Liverpool at 3pm BST, before his first home match on Saturday 8 October sees the Seagulls host Tottenham Hotspur live on Sky Sports at 5:30pm BST.
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