American-born Fabian Hürzeler takes over at Brighton, becoming the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history.
Hürzeller, 31, joins from German side St. Pauli, who led the club to the Bundesliga for the first time in 13 years this season.
He has signed a three-year contract with Brighton and is due to start work as soon as his work permit is approved.
Brighton chairman Tony Bloom said: “From the start of the process of appointing a new manager, Fabian has always been an outstanding candidate and someone who has caught our attention with his outstanding performances at St Pauli over the past 18 months.”
“He has a style of play that matches the way we play as a Brighton & Hove Albion team and I am sure that is something our supporters will appreciate and enjoy.”
“Fabian has an outstanding coaching experience and has worked with the German Federation at various age levels. We are really excited to be working with Fabian as we prepare for the upcoming season.”
Brighton’s statement announcing Hürzeller’s appointment said he would be made official at a press conference on July 2.
Several players in Brighton’s squad will be older than the next manager. James Milner (38), Danny Welbeck (33), Pascal Gross (33) and Lewis Dunk (32) were all born before Hürzeler.
The manager will not become the youngest person to coach a Premier League game as Ryan Mason took charge of Tottenham’s game on a brief interim basis in 2021, with the 29-year-old still in charge.
Born in Houston to a Swiss father and German mother, Hürzeller served as an assistant coach for Germany’s U-18 and U-20 teams before taking over as coach of St. Pauli midway through the 2022-23 season.
The club was struggling near the relegation zone when Hürzeler took over, but under his management they finished a respectable fifth place.
The following year, Hürzeler’s first full season as manager ended with Saint Pauli winning the Bundesliga second division title on the final day of the season.
He replaces Roberto De Zerbi, who left the south coast club at the end of the season after a year and a half at the club.
