In a season that has already seen surprises and setbacks, Fabian Hürzeler has emerged as the English Premier League’s newest managerial sensation. The 31-year-old, Texas-born coach has hit the ground running at Brighton & Hove Albion, going unbeaten in his first four league matches and establishing himself as a manager to watch. But while Hürzeler’s career is flourishing in England, his former club, St. Pauli, is struggling to cope without him.
Hürzeler’s meteoric rise began last season when he led the Hamburg-based club to promotion back to the Bundesliga, a feat St. Pauli hadn’t accomplished since 2011. His success at St. Pauli was remarkable, bringing them back to Germany’s top flight in a manner that seemed to signal a bright future for the club. However, shortly after securing their return to the Bundesliga, Hürzeler made the surprising decision to leave the team and take the reins at Brighton.
Now, with the Bundesliga three games into the season, St. Pauli is facing a crisis. Since Hürzeler’s departure, the club has failed to earn a single point, and Sunday’s 3-1 loss to Augsburg left them firmly in the relegation zone. The team is now coached by Alexander Blessin, who has struggled to replicate Hürzeler’s success. St. Pauli’s inability to adjust to life back in the Bundesliga has been alarming, with the team only just managing to avoid the ignominy of being the last team to score a goal this season.
In their latest defeat against Augsburg, St. Pauli appeared to show signs of life when Carlo Boukhalfa headed in a goal to make it 2-1. But any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Augsburg’s Yusuf Kabadayi netted a goal in added time to secure a 3-1 victory. For Augsburg, the win was their first of the season, and it came just three days after coach Jess Thorup was handed a contract extension through 2026. New signing Marius Wolf opened the scoring with his first Bundesliga goal in over a year, while Phillip Tietz added to the tally with a powerful header.
As for St. Pauli, their defensive fragility and lack of cohesion have been glaring. They sit second-to-last in the Bundesliga table, with only fellow newly-promoted side Holstein Kiel below them. Holstein Kiel’s disastrous 6-1 loss to Bayern Munich on Saturday left them with a goal difference of minus eight after just three matches. For St. Pauli, their situation is precarious, and Blessin will need to turn things around quickly if they are to avoid a swift return to the second division.
Meanwhile, across the Channel, Hürzeler’s Brighton tenure has been a revelation. His high-tempo style of play has endeared him to the fans and has seen the Seagulls soar to the upper echelons of the Premier League table. His tactical acumen, honed during his time at St. Pauli, has translated seamlessly to the English game. Brighton, known for their strong recruitment and innovative approach under previous managers, seem to have struck gold with Hürzeler, whose young age belies his tactical maturity and leadership qualities.
Hürzeler’s early success at Brighton has prompted many to wonder just how far he can take the club. While it is still early days in the Premier League season, going unbeaten in four matches is an impressive start, and it’s clear that Brighton’s ambitions are growing under his guidance. For Hürzeler, the move to Brighton has provided a platform to showcase his managerial talents on a bigger stage, and if his early form is anything to go by, he could be one of the most exciting young managers in Europe.
As Hürzeler thrives in England, the contrast with St. Pauli’s current plight is stark. The Hamburg club, once so buoyed by his leadership, now faces an uphill battle to remain in the Bundesliga. For St. Pauli fans, the season has been one of frustration and disappointment, compounded by the knowledge that their former coach is now making headlines for all the right reasons at Brighton.
The story of Hürzeler’s rise and St. Pauli’s fall is a tale of two clubs moving in opposite directions. While Brighton looks set for a promising season, St. Pauli must find a way to regroup before their Bundesliga campaign slips further out of control. The coming weeks will be crucial for both clubs, but for now, the spotlight shines brightest on Fabian Hürzeler, the Premier League’s new managerial star.
