Glowing appraisal for Hurzeler

Sporting director Jason Ayto and technical director Mike Cave have been impressed with head coach's first 18 months at Albion.

2025-12-25T16:00+00:00

Jason Ayto and Mike Cave. 📷 by James Boardman.

Albion’s senior technical staff have given Fabian Hurzeler a glowing appraisal after more than 18 months as the club’s head coach.

Sporting director Jason Ayto and technical director Mike Cave insist that Hurzeler ticks all the boxes for tactical awareness, work ethic and man management, while the pair agree with Fabian’s view that Albion’s league position will improve if the team can achieve more consistency.

Ayto, who was appointed in September, has found Hurzeler “engaging and insightful. He has quickly become well respected within the game, and across the Premier League, which is even more impressive when you factor in his age.

“Fabian is a student of the game, someone who loves the detail and works incredibly hard. Conversations with him are always constructive – he’s open minded and values input, which makes working with him a pleasure.

“Fabian has an ability to balance tactical detail with man management. His work rate and drive are incredible, and he is meticulous in preparation. He is equally strong at building trust and confidence within the squad. Players respond well to him because he communicates clearly and understands what motivates individuals.”

Both men pinpoint his effective use of substitutes as evidence of the coach’s clear thinking and adaptability.

“Fabian reads games well and isn’t afraid to make bold decisions,” Ayto said. “This has served us really well when you consider the number of goals from substitutes this season – our record is the best across the top five leagues in Europe. In play, he combines modern tactical thinking with a calm authority that players respect – that’s a rare skill for a coach.”

Cave agreed. “His substitutions often change games, which speaks to his ability to spot opportunities and act decisively to exploit them,” he said. “But it also reflects the depth and balance of the squad he’s helped shape – he makes every player feels they have a role to play, and that’s important.”

Cave rejects any suggestion that the team has no clear pattern of play. “Fabian has a very clear way he wants to play. We saw that at Nottingham Forest, with a really impressive performance and two very different aspects in both halves. Fluidity in the first half, in what was arguably one of our best performances in the Premier League; and then really good resilience and game management in the second half. Fabian sets clear principles for the players, but he also has the capability to adapt to opponents and situations. We don’t want just one style of play.”

Fabian Hurzeler 'is a student of the game who loves the detail,' according to sporting director Jason Ayto.

The numbers back up their assertion. “Absolutely,” Ayto said. “Fabian's record in his first 50 matches was the best of any Brighton manager or head coach at this level. He was really unlucky when you reflect on last season; in most other seasons his points return would have taken us into Europe. There is still work to do, around consistency, and that is where the work on the training ground is so important.”

Cave agrees. “Perhaps the one thing which has not helped with clarity is our own inconsistency, and Fabian said it again after the last game. It comes down to one key area for improvement, being consistent in the basics. Our last opponents Sunderland are a brilliant example of a Premier League team doing the basics consistently well and getting the rewards. That is the area we need to improve.

“We feel like we have left points on the field this season in certain games and that is frustrating everyone, but Fabian feels that more than anyone. He has regularly challenged the squad and told them not to miss what we see as a real opportunity this season. That might be in terms of league position or the cup. What we do not want is a situation where the players have any regrets and are left thinking what might have been at the end of the season.

“We’ve got good young players who are developing well, and experienced ones guiding them. Fabian’s approach is about continuous improvement, and you can feel an energy in the group. As we head into the New Year if we were to focus on resolutions, starting at Arsenal on the 27th, it would be consistency and grasping the opportunity.”