Brighton is, once again, among the Premier League’s top teams. That’s not exactly something new, yet it is surprising. Fabian Hürzeler’s appointment has proven beyond doubt that the Seagulls are a great club when it comes to scouting either for managers or for players.
However, the success is not just due to sensible club policies. Fabian Hürzeler’s tactics are playing an important role in this great season.
What defines these tactics? How can you use them to improve your FootballCoin team? These are the things I will be discussing in this article.
Career Prior to Managing Brighton
First thing’s first, yes, Brighton can sure pick ’em. Many fans assumed it had been Roberto de Zerbi‘s touch that had helped Brighton battle against the greats. But, before that, it had been another semi-unknown, Graham Potter, who’d achieved amazing results.
How did Brighton spot Fabian Hürzeler? He is only 31 years of age at the time of writing. He was part of Bayern Munchen’s player academy as a youth. But after playing in the lower leagues for a while, ended his career as a player at the tender age of 23.
But, Hürzeler then used the relationships he had built up to jumpstart a coaching career. First, he managed the fifth division of German football before accepting a role as assistant manager of St. Pauli. Eventually, he became head coach of the club and led them to promotion to the Bundesliga in 2024.
Still, many were surprised when he was tasked with replacing De Zerbi, one of the most in-vogue managers in the Premier League.
Tactical Philosophy
While some young managers find it intimidating to work with famous, experienced players, Fabian Hürzeler has used his age to his advantage. Hürzeler prioritizes man-management, promising to help improve every member of the squad. And the Germans have shown an openness to new tactical ideas.
Fabian Hürzeler’s tactics emphasize dynamism and fluidity. Players often rotate positions, and ideally, they need to be capable of operating in numerous roles. They must also be fit to press relentlessly and put in the running miles.
But Brighton’s club philosophy is also worth considering. Under Potter or De Zerbi, the Seagulls were noted for prioritizing possession-based football and tactical fluidity.
Hürzeler was not brought in to innovate but to improve a set of tactical principles for which senior players are recruited and with which youth players are trained.
Brighton’s ability to identify Fabian Hürzeler and take a chance on him immediately after working with a manager as famous as De Zerbi is proof of excellent vision.
Formations and Adaptability
Like Potter before him, Hürzeler is not married to one formation. This would be pointless anyway, as constant positional tinkering is key to the way that Brighton play.
Still, when starting games, Hürzeler typically adopts a traditional 4-2-3-1 formation. However, this is often altered to adapt to the type of football played by the team’s opponents. Brighton will switch to a 4-2-2 or 4-3-3 formation whenever necessary.
When building up, typically, the team will switch to a front three in a 4-3-3 formation. And, when forced to defend in a low press against a tougher opponent, they will move to a highly compact 4-4-2.
Brighton in Defence
Hürzeler operates by the classic principle enforced by Johann Cruyff, who is, in many ways, the father of modern football – “When defending, try to make yourself as small as possible, and when attacking, try to spread out and cover the playing field.”
Brighton’s setup is dynamic and compact in the defensive phase. Yes, like the best EPL teams, Brighton likes to win the ball quickly through aggressive counter-pressing. They will often go man-to-man and use this aggressiveness to force mistakes and create turnovers.
But, Hürzeler acknowledges that this is a risky maneuver. It has taken exceptional discipline and well-drilled tactics to avoid faster, more technical players to create chances on the counterattack.
It’s also meant that Hürzeler will adopt a low press in a 4-4-2 when this is required. Players will try to squeeze out space so as not to allow opposition players to operate between the lines.
This also means that none of Brighton’s players are allowed to be lazy. The two forwards are among the team’s most aggressive counter-pressing players. Wingers routinely drop deep to assist the backline in creating numerical superiority against the opponent.
Build-up Phase
Ever since his time in charge of St. Pauli in Bundesliga II, Fabian Hürzeler has been a manager who has prioritized a possession-based game. Those weren’t radical ideas then or now. But they’ve certainly required bravery and top-notch preparation.
Brighton in 2024 is a team that likes to build up from the back and attack vertically, quickly, creating goal-scoring chances as quickly as possible. However, this approach is tailored to suit opponents.
When pressed by a tougher opponent, Brighton is forced to rely on the central defenders to start the build-up phase. The Seagulls usually line up in a 4-3-3. The central defenders and one of the pivots will drop further down. The full-backs and wingers advance and look to create space.
When the opposition’s game allows them to, Brighton’s players will try to dictate the tempo of the game, play centrally and control possession. Usually, this involves having the full-backs move into a more central role. The central defenders will also move closer to the halfway line. Meanwhile, the midfielders will move to create compact lines between themselves and the defenders and attackers.
Players will change position often. This is an approach adopted as far back as in Hungary’s famous 1950s team by manager Gusztáv Sebes. It was this innovation that, for example, stunned England and led to conclusive victories by Hungary in London and in Budapest.
This fluidity has two essential functions. Firstly, it creates confusion for the opposition players tasked with marking Brighton’s men.
Secondly, it is meant to ensure that Brighton always has one extra man in any phase of the game. Usually, this means getting an additional player in a central area. This player can either become an additional passing option or can force defenders to choose whether to move out of their position and mark them.
Brighton in Attack
Hürzeler relies on a mix of experience and youthful exuberance to execute his attacking plans. For the moment, it’s working. Typically, Brighton has gotten by outscoring opponents.
Most goals have come from 34-year-old striker Danny Welbeck. Kaoru Mitoma, enjoying another strong EPL season, has been another of the team’s main goal threats. But youngsters and newer additions to the squad, Joao Pedro and Georginio Rutter, have been coming into their own.
How does Brighton attack? Once against, the team’s fluid movement is key to attacking in the final third. Full-backs and attacking midfielders may switch roles, or one may complement the other when quickly bringing the ball into the opposition’s defensive area.
Welbeck will often act as a target man. His role will be to link up play with attacking midfielders. He’ll do this by dropping deeper and using his strength and tactical acumen to receive the ball and play to a teammate. Typically, central midfielders, or even the defenders, will advance up the field, and try to crowd central areas.
This constant movement means that Brighton always looks to have at least one extra man against the opposition’s defenders. For example, when playing against a back four, the full-backs will make a run inside, allowing the wingers to advance down the flanks.
This fluidity of movement also allows Brighton to attack well against teams who cannot defend half-spaces. Brazilian midfielder Joao Pedro has been especially efficient in this role. He will make runs in behind the defender, which will force a reaction from the opposition.
Brighton’s players haven’t just been efficient in finishing goalscoring chances and taking advantage of overloads. The team is well-drilled when it comes to attacking corners and freekicks and has proven to be frequently dangerous in these situations.
What’s Next for Hürzeler and Brighton?
Fabian Hürzeler couldn’t have started his Premier League career any better than he did. At the time of writing, Brighton is in line to quench qualification to the Champions League against much more famous opposition. Will this last?
Possibly not. But that’s possibly not the point. Brighton has proven to be a very well-run club. Each time that they’ve lost their charismatic manager or most important players, they’ve found ways to quickly replace them. The club has a clear vision and identity and is building on those.
Fabian Hürzeler has shown no sort of naivety as a manager so far. He’s led a sophisticated array of tactics that have managed to get the best out of Brighton’s players. Like Potter or De Zerbi, there’s no telling just how far the German manager can go.
Even though the results should change direction now, it is clear that Brighton has proven something very important. Through a good strategy implemented consistently, a Premier League club can eventually alter its rank. In a football world where money seems to be everything nowadays, it’s refreshing to witness something different.
