What are Brighton & Fabian Hürzeler's tactics and style of play?
Fabian Hürzeler, 31, is on the cusp of becoming the youngest Premier League manager in history, with Tony Bloom's Brighton set to bring the young German coach in to replace head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
Hürzeler, born on 26 February 1993, is a German football coach and former player who has been garnering much-deserved attention after he led FC St. Pauli to the 2. Bundesliga title, putting the club back in the Bundesliga for the first time in 23 years.
What makes this achievement more impressive is the style in which Hürzeler accomplished this, the limited resources that he had available to him, and the giants of German football that he beat along the way.
St Pauli outperformed the likes of Düsseldorf, Hamburger SV, Hertha BSC, Schalke 04, and Hannover 96 to gain promotion to the Bundesliga in May 2024.
Who is Fabian Hürzeler?
Fabian Hürzeler was actually born in Houston, Texas, to a Swiss father and a German mother, with the family deciding to move back to Germany when he was two years old.
His playing career mainly took place in the lower ranks of German football, featuring for Bayern Munich II, 1899 Hoffenheim II, and 1860 Munich II.
At the young age of 23, he transitioned from playing to coaching, taking on a player/head coach role at FC Pipinsried in 2016.
This has become a growing trend in football, with young emerging coaches like Will Still, Kieran McKenna, and Enzo Maresca opting to become professional football coaches instead of pursuing a professional playing career.
What has Hürzeler achieved in his short coaching career?
Hürzeler's coaching journey began in earnest in 2016, and by 2018, he was an assistant manager for Germany's U18 and U20 teams.
In 2020, he joined FC St. Pauli as an assistant coach under Timo Schultz.
After Schultz's dismissal in December 2022, Hürzeler was appointed interim head coach, and then made permanent head coach following a successful stint.
His impact was immediate, leading the team to ten consecutive victories and steering them from relegation danger to promotion contenders.
By April 2023, he obtained his UEFA Pro Licence, and under his leadership, St. Pauli secured promotion to the Bundesliga in May 2024. His success at such a young age, particularly in turning around a struggling team, has drawn comparisons to Julian Nagelsmann.
What is Fabian Hürzeler's footballing philosophy?
Fabian Hürzeler's style of play has been heavily influenced by the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Roberto De Zerbi and Thomas Tuchel, with touches of Jürgen Klopp in terms of pressing intensity.
His teams often dominate the ball, manipulating the tempo to create and exploit spaces effectively.
Controlled possession
Hürzeler's tactical approach is characterised by controlled possession with the ability to manipulate tempo, a style reminiscent of Roberto De Zerbi's progressive football.
His teams excel in deep circulation and are adept at playing through the centre, effectively baiting the opposition press and exploiting openings.
Tactical flexibility and innovative build-up
Hürzeler employs a 3-4-3 base formation, though this rarely materialises in a rigid form on the pitch.
His teams make extensive use of the goalkeeper as an additional possession player, enhancing their ability to maintain control and build up play from the back.
The three central defenders are crucial to this system, each playing a unique role in progressing the ball forward.
Use of wingbacks and inside rotation
Hürzeler utilises wingbacks to stretch the opposition and create width.
These players typically rotate inside, especially during build-up phases, allowing the midfielders to push higher and occupy dangerous positions.
This inside rotation not only confuses opponents but also ensures numerical superiority in central areas, facilitating smoother progression into the attacking third.
His team’s offensive play is characterised by intelligent positioning and combination play, particularly involving wingers Elias Saad and Oladapo Afolayan, who excel in one-on-one situations and creating opportunities.
Manipulating tempo and baiting presses
A significant aspect of Hürzeler’s approach is the manipulation of tempo.
His teams often slow down the game to draw opponents out, creating space behind the pressing lines.
Once the press is triggered, they accelerate play through quick, incisive passes.
This method is inspired by Roberto De Zerbi’s style, ensuring that possession is retained while positioning players optimally to exploit gaps.
Hürzeler’s teams have a 3-2 rest defence, and sometimes a 2-3 rest defence formation, ensuring defensive solidity when the ball is turned over.
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How does Fabian Hürzeler's Brighton defend?
Defensively, Hürzeler’s teams combine intense pressing with a solid structural foundation, making them difficult to break down.
High press and counterpressing
Hürzeler employs a high-pressing system that aims to win the ball back quickly. His players are instructed to press aggressively, particularly in the opponent’s half, to force errors and regain possession. This pressing is highly coordinated, with triggers set to ensure that the team moves as a unit. Once possession is lost, a swift counterpress is activated to immediately pressure the ball carrier and deny easy passes out of the press.
Defensive structure
In terms of structure, Hürzeler’s teams often form a 5-2-3 shape when out of possession, providing both width and depth in defence. The three centre-backs are crucial, with one often stepping into midfield to add an extra layer of pressure or dropping deeper to cover runs in behind. This flexibility ensures that the team remains compact and organised, reducing the risk of being caught out by counter-attacks.
Man-marking and zonal pressing
Hürzeler’s defensive approach combines man-oriented marking with zonal principles. Players are assigned specific opponents to mark, especially in key areas like the central midfield and attacking third. However, they are also aware of the zonal responsibilities, ensuring that spaces are covered, and passing lanes are blocked. This hybrid approach maximises defensive solidity while allowing for aggressive pressing.
How do Fabian Hürzeler's teams transition?
Transition play is a hallmark of Hürzeler’s tactical approach, with a focus on quick, decisive actions both offensively and defensively.
The transition from defence to attack
Upon winning the ball, Hürzeler’s teams transition rapidly to attack. This involves quick vertical passes to exploit the disorganised state of the opposition.
The central midfielders, often positioned deeper during defensive phases, push forward immediately, providing passing options and supporting the forwards.
The wingers and wingbacks also move higher up the pitch, creating width and stretching the defence.
This rapid transition aims to catch opponents off guard, leading to high-quality chances.
Transition to defence after losing the ball
When possession is lost, Hürzeler’s teams are well-drilled in transitioning to defence.
Players are expected to counterpress immediately, with the nearest player pressuring the ball and others cutting off passing lanes.
This immediate reaction prevents the opposition from launching quick counter-attacks and often results in swift recoveries of possession.
The team then reorganises into its defensive shape, ready to press again or fall back into a more structured defensive stance if the counterpress is bypassed.
Fluid roles and positional flexibility
One of the key aspects of Hürzeler’s transition play is the fluidity of roles.
Players are encouraged to be versatile, with wingbacks dropping into defence and midfielders pushing into attack as needed.
This positional flexibility allows the team to adapt quickly to changing situations, maintaining balance and control even during chaotic moments of transition.
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Fabian Hürzeler is emerging as one of the most innovative young coaches in football.
His ability to combine tactical flexibility with a disciplined, possession-based style has not only led FC St. Pauli to the Bundesliga but also garnered attention for his sophisticated approach to the game.
As Hürzeler continues to develop his career, his influence on modern football tactics is likely to grow, making him a coach to watch in the coming years.
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