Sometimes it’s not just the players who steal the spotlight.
That was the case this week when a surprising star emerged during Brighton’s pre-season training session—and it wasn’t one of the club’s footballers.
Coach Shows Off Footwork in Viral Video
A video posted by Brighton’s official TikTok account captured their manager showing off some unexpected flair.
As the team prepared for their first pre-season game, head coach Fabian Hurzeler took a moment to display his own ball control—and fans were loving it.
In the clip, Hurzeler can be seen confidently juggling the ball with smooth kick-ups and fancy tricks.
One amused player can even be heard in the background saying, “Admin, this is some quality content,” clearly impressed by his coach’s footwork.
Fans Flood the Comments with Reactions
The short video didn’t go unnoticed.
Since going live on Sunday afternoon, it’s racked up over 100,000 views and more than 12,000 likes on TikTok.
The comment section quickly filled with playful observations, especially focused on the coach’s age.
One user joked, “Virgil van Dijk and Harry Maguire are both older,” while another added, “Remember he’s younger than some of our players.”
Others took the opportunity to compare Hurzeler’s youthfulness to seasoned players like James Milner, poking fun at the idea of a manager being younger than part of his squad.
A Young Manager with a Unique Background
For those unfamiliar with Fabian Hurzeler’s story, his rise has been anything but conventional.
Appointed Brighton manager last summer, Hurzeler made headlines as the youngest manager in Premier League history at just 31 years old.
Before coaching, he had a stint as a player in Bayern Munich’s youth setup.
He spent eight years there, making over 30 league appearances for Bayern Munich II.
But instead of pursuing a long professional playing career, Hurzeler transitioned early—choosing to focus on coaching after only playing for amateur clubs in Germany past age 22.
From Player-Coach to Premier League Boss
Hurzeler’s managerial journey began in 2016 with German side FC Pipinsried, where he took on a dual role as player-coach and led the team to promotion in his first season.
His coaching credentials grew steadily, and by 2020, he had landed an assistant role with FC St. Pauli.
In December 2022, he was promoted to St. Pauli’s head coach, guiding the team to Bundesliga promotion within two seasons.
That success earned him the call to take over from Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton—and he’s already making waves on England’s south coast.
Kicking Off the New Season with Flair
After a solid eighth-place finish in his debut Premier League campaign, Hurzeler now leads Brighton into the 2025-26 season with renewed optimism.
Their pre-season preparations are officially underway, with their first match set for Monday evening against Las Palmas from Spain.
If the coach’s skills are anything to go by, Brighton might not just be exciting on the pitch—but also on the sidelines.
As fans wait to see what’s next, one thing’s clear: Hurzeler is bringing more than just tactics to the table.
