Premier League
Roberto De Zerbi Announces Shocking Exit From Brighton
Brighton’s manager, Roberto De Zerbi, will depart the club following Sunday’s season finale against Manchester United. The Italian arrived at Albion in September 2022 in the wake of Graham Potter’s departure to Chelsea and achieved swift success, guiding the team to their best-ever Premier League finish of sixth place.
This achievement earned them a spot in this season’s Europa League and sparked speculation linking De Zerbi to several prestigious Clubs. Brighton and De Zerbi advanced to the Europa League’s last 16, and they are currently in 10th place in the Premier League with one match remaining.
“I am very sad to be leaving Brighton, but I am very proud of what my players and staff have achieved with the support of everyone at the club and our amazing fans in the past two historical seasons,” De Zerbi said in a statement. “We have agreed to end my time at Brighton so that the club and I can continue to work in the way that suits each of us best, following our ideas and visions, as well as our work and human values.”
“I have enjoyed an intense and challenging two years working in the Premier League, not least competing in four major competitions this season. Leaving now provides me with time to take a break before deciding on my plans.”
Although the announcement may surprise some, there has been significant speculation regarding the 44-year-old’s future for quite some time. In March, when questioned about his status and the possibility of extending his contract, he said: “We didn’t find the agreement. The contract is a part of the future. It’s important for me, it’s important for everyone but it’s a small part, the big part is the plan. We have to speak with the club.”
Brighton owner Tony Bloom said that the parting of ways was a mutual one. “Roberto has given us two excellent seasons of service in which he has led the club to new heights, not least our first-ever European campaign which will live long in the memory of Albion fans,” he said. “We have mutually agreed to end Roberto’s contract at a time that suits both parties allowing us the earliest opportunity to plan for next season, and Roberto plenty of time to consider his next move and his future.”
He continued, “I am sure our fans will give Roberto and his staff a wonderful and fully deserved send-off at the Amex before, during, and after tomorrow’s match. In the meantime, I’d like to thank Roberto and his staff for all their hard work in the past two seasons. They all leave our club on good terms and with our very best wishes for the future.”