Fabian ‘Coach Kid’ Hürzeler, the culprit of Guardiola’s biggest crisis

The defeat against Brighton (2-1) unleashed Pep Guardiola’s biggest crisis on the bench. For the first time in his career, the Manchester City coach had four defeats. A milestone behind which another great strategist hides: Fabian Hürzeler (2-26-1993).

Roberto de Zerbi’s successor can boast of being the youngest permanent coach – interim ones are not included – (31 years and 179 days) in the history of the Premier League. “They’re doing a great job. I’m impressed with the way they play: they have personality, pace…” Guardiola warned in the preview.

I’m impressed with the way they play: they have personality

Pep Guardiola

“It’s only three points, but City is one of the best teams in the world and Guardiola one of the best coaches. This victory should help us be proud and gain confidence,” acknowledged Hürzeler, possibly the most ‘unknown’ coach in the game. English league.

Pep Guardiola, along with Fabian Hürzeler.

Pep Guardiola, with Fabian Hürzeler.EFE

A potential ‘baby Klopp’

Hürzeler is not only the youngest permanent coach in the history of the Premier. He had just been promoted to St. Pauli and became the youngest coach to rise to the Bundesliga. “He will have a great career on the bench,” predicted Emre Can, with whom he shared a team in the Bayern youth academy.

He will have a great career on the bench

Emre Can

What’s more, when he took the reins of St. Pauli in December 2022, at the age of 29 years, 11 months and three days, he broke a record held by Jürgen Klopp. The former Liverpool coach had six victories when he took over as coach of Mainz in 2001. Well, the Brighton coach, who kept the team out of relegation due to goal difference, achieved 10!

It’s not the only thing that unites them. They also share a style book. “I’ve been quite impressed. I have memories of Klopp. Some tactical ideas sound familiar to me. In defense the focus is on high intensity and counterpressing,” admits James Milner, seven years older than his coach. “He also has things from De Zerbi. He wants us to be aggressive, with and without the ball,” he clarifies.

It has impressed me quite a bit. Memories of Klopp come back to me. Some tactical ideas sound familiar

James Milner

He has already won a ‘Coach of the Month’ award

Hürzeler has fallen on his feet at the Falmer Stadium. The victories against Everton (0-3) and Manchester United (2-1) and the draw against Arsenal (1-1) earned him the election of ‘Coach of the Month’ for August in the Premier. Never has such a young coach won the award.

His script has no secrets. “I’m not a big fan of systems. For me it’s important that we have the ability to change during the game,” he warned on ‘Sky Sports’. Intensity, however, is not discussed: “I am convinced that if you run more than your rival, if you do more sprints, if you do more meters at high speed… you increase your winning percentage.”

If you run more than your rival, if you do more sprints, if you do more meters at high speed… you increase the winning percentage

Fabian Hurzeler

In that sense, in addition to ‘gegenpressing’, playing with the advanced defensive line, ‘like Flick’, plays a prominent role: “The high line requires a lot of work, but, if you defend in a compact way, the percentage of recovering the ball and getting to the top as quickly as possible is high.”

He likes to defend high up and load the rival area with as many troops as possible: “What I always try to do is increase the scoring percentage and I do that by attacking the area.”

For example, a button. ‘His’ St. Pauli was promoted to the Bundesliga, being the team that averaged the most shots per game (15.68), traveled the most kilometers (122.24), and performed the most high-intensity runs… in the German Second Division.

Bayern youth player, retired at 23 years old

Hürzeler was born in the USA – he is the son of a Swiss dentist and a German mother – but when he was only two years old he moved to Munich. In fact, he entered the Bayern youth academy at the age of 11 and went through all the youth categories. He even became an under-19 international with Germany and trained with the first team alongside Schweinsteiger, Robben, Ribéry…

Fabian Hürzeler, in his playing days.

Fabian Hürzeler, in his playing days.FC Bayern

This defensive midfielder’s career took a dramatic turn in 2016, after passing through the affiliates of Hoffenheim and 1860 Munich. At the age of 23 he decided to end his “professional career” by becoming a player-coach for FC Pipinsried, with which he achieved promotion to the Fourth Division. A position that, since 2018, he combined with that of assistant for the German under 18 and under 20 teams.

Fabian Hürzeler, with the German Second League champion trophy.

Fabian Hürzeler, with the German Second League champion trophy. Instagram

Hürzeler had a last ‘cameo’ at Eimsbütteler TV, in the Sixth Division, while he was Timo Schultz’s assistant at St. Pauli. The rest is history. He arrived as interim in December 2022, saved the ‘pirates’, returned them to the Bundesliga 13 years later! and last Saturday he signed Pep Guardiola’s biggest crisis as a coach. Don’t lose track of him.


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