Exclusive: How Bayern Munich motto and data-led scouting system shaped Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton & Hove Albion

Published 16/01/2025 at 07:50 GMT

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler sits down with Eurosport Germany's football expert Dennis Melzer for a deep dive into his first half-season in England. The record-breaking young coach talks Bayern Munich's motto shaping his philosophy, Brighton's impressive data-led scouting system, and much more. Watch Brighton's trip to Ipswich Town live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Highlights: Joao Pedro scores late and Welbeck claims 100th career goal as Brighton beat Man Utd

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Fabian Hurzeler enjoyed a remarkable 2024. The German tactician led St. Pauli into the Bundesliga at the age of 31, then became the Premier League's youngest ever manager.

After a promising start to life in England, Hurzeler has most recently overseen a run of eight winless league games with Brighton & Hove Albion.

The last four of those have been draws - contributing to a league-high total of 10. He'll aim to end the streak on Thursday against Ipswich Town, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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Ahead of that clash, Hurzeler sat down with Eurosport Germany's football expert Dennis Melzer for an exclusive chat on his coaching philosophy, Bayern Munich's motto, and much more...

Melzer: Fabian, you got off to a flying start to the season with your new club, beating Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, among others. Recently, the results have been a little more moderate. How would you summarise your experience after almost six months in England?

Hurzeler: There were a lot of positive things, but of course there are also things that we need to improve.

We knew in the summer that there would be a lot of changes. For example, the head of the medical department and the head of performance were replaced, and there was a completely new coaching team.

In addition, many experienced players left the club. We always said that we wanted to focus on the development process - even though we had such a good start.

We didn't play so well at the start but picked up many points. More recently, we played better but took fewer points. That's the paradox of football.

Highlights: Joao Pedro scores late and Welbeck claims 100th career goal as Brighton beat Man Utd

Video credit: TNT Sports

Melzer: How is it possible to continue to trust the performance process you mentioned despite initial setbacks?

Hurzeler: It is important to concentrate on the process in good phases. But it is also important not to let the results influence you too much in weaker phases. It's about continuing along the path and working hard.

Many of our players are still young and are playing their first season in the Premier League. As a coaching team, we want to give them the platform and environment to develop in the best possible way.

I am firmly convinced that the results will then also be positive again in the long term.

Melzer: What are the biggest differences between German and English football?

Hurzeler: The game in the Premier League is very physical. It's impressive, but it's also a big challenge for the players.

Not just physically, but also mentally. The enormous intensity, the fact that matches continue over Christmas and New Year's Eve, naturally also harbours a greater risk of injury. It is therefore important that the squad is balanced.

Melzer: What impresses you most about the Premier League apart from the physical component?

Hurzeler: Every single opponent, regardless of where they are in the table, has brutal individual quality, every opponent has players in their ranks who can decide a game with one action.

Look at Wolverhampton Wanderers, for example - there's a Matheus Cunha on the pitch. This situation is new to me. I have to adapt to teams that are compact but only need one situation to strike.

Melzer: What lessons can you learn from this as a coach?

Hurzeler: I learnt in the Premier League that momentum plays an important role.

If the momentum is on your side, then you have to reward yourself with a goal and try to keep the momentum. If you don't capitalize on it, you'll be punished coldly.

Brighton & Hove Albion coach Fabian Hurzeler gestures during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Goodison Park on August 17, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

Image credit: Getty Images

Melzer: Club owner Tony Bloom relies on a statistics-based scouting system at his clubs, Brighton and Union Saint-Gilloise. Deniz Undav and Victor Boniface, for example, have benefited from this. How big was the changeover for you?

Hurzeler: I'm always open to new trends. In football in particular, there are many opportunities to utilise modern technologies. I'm a big fan of this data-based approach.

In addition to the emotional points that you perceive, rational arguments are also provided in black and white.

It's important that you don't just judge players in your own bubble, but that you are also open to data-based aspects. Overall, however, scouting here is not too different from the German approach.

Melzer: How does the scouting work?

Hurzeler: Players are scouted using figures and data - and in the best case scenario end up on a shortlist.

In addition to the sporting statistics, there are clear criteria: How old is he? How much does he cost?

The next step is to find out whether the player is a good fit for us. To get to know the player better, we hold Zoom calls or organise personal meetings.

We then try to convey our idea to the player and show them how we would like to work with them. A joint decision is then made.

This means that players are not only signed on the basis of data, but must also be a good fit on a personal level.

I believe that this data-based approach will make scouting easier. As the figures have already proven in the past that the whole thing can be successful, a certain amount of trust is developing in their validity. In my view, this is very effective.

Melzer: At the beginning of the 2000s, you were also scouted by FC Bayern, where you came through a number of youth teams and later played for the second team. In an interview with the newspaper FAZ, you once said that the Munich credo ‘Mia san Mia’ had a lasting influence on you. How does this manifest itself in your work today?

Hurzeler: ‘Mia san Mia’ is a feeling of cohesion. We want to achieve something, we are strong. And if we are strong together, then the individual is also strong.

A team brings together many different cultures and characters that need to be united. This involves work on the football pitch, but also a lot of work off the pitch. Shared experiences weld a team together - both good and bad.

‘Mia san Mia’ also stands for the irrepressible will to succeed. When you play for Bayern, you're not just expected to win a game. You also have to win them with a certain style. The style of play, the identity of the game was important.

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That's what I try to convey to my players. No matter who we're up against, we have a chance. I want to establish the concept of a ‘winning culture’ - not just in the games.

We also work with competition in training, the players should give their all to finish a training day as winners. That's something I learnt from FC Bayern.

The players at Bayern were so hungry for victory back then that every training session was about winning. That moulded me and that's why I want to integrate ‘Mia san Mia’ here at Brighton as well.

Melzer: According to you, Mehmet Scholl was your best coach - what impressed you most about him?

Hurzeler: He was always very direct, he never minced his words. Mehmet explained to us and to me how professional football works.

It was about what I just mentioned: how you win games, what is important to a team. The focus was not on tactics. Football business is people business. How do I manage to unite everyone?

Clear structures and clear hierarchies in which everyone knows their role are important for this. I learnt a lot from Mehmet in this respect. He also simply had that much-cited Bayern gene, that ambition to always want to win.

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Melzer: Who would you name as a managerial role model?

Hurzeler: I wouldn't limit it to one coach. There are so many good coaches in the world and so many coaches who helped me when I was young.

In Germany alone, we have Jurgen Klopp, Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel - to name just a few examples - outstanding coaches who have already achieved a lot.

You can always learn things from them. The exchange with colleagues is also very enriching. Ultimately, however, you have to find your own identity. If you copy someone else, you end up being limited.

Melzer: Speaking of exchange. You spoke to Pep Guardiola on the phone before you came to England to get some tips. How did this contact come about?

Hurzeler: There are a few people who have followed both my and Pep's path in the past. They put me in touch with him.

It was important for me beforehand to speak to a Premier League coach who has been with the club for a long time and has a lot of experience.

You can never be perfectly prepared, but the fact that Pep shared his experience was very helpful. I am very grateful that he was so open.

Melzer: The tips obviously helped. You beat him in your very first duel. How does that feel?

Hurzeler: Of course it's something very special. Pep is one of the best, if not the best, coaches in the world. It was very special precisely because he is so flexible and tactically skilful.

But it's important for me to emphasise that it wasn't a game between me and Pep, but a game between Brighton and Manchester City. I think it was a great experience not just for me, but for our whole club.

Melzer: You were promoted from the second to the first Bundesliga at the age of 31 and became the youngest coach in Premier League history at the same age. Where does Fabian Hurzeler's journey take him next?

Hurzeler: I am very modest and down-to-earth in this respect. I know how quickly things have gone up. But things can go down just as quickly in football.

I always try to keep learning - even in somewhat difficult sporting phases like the current one. I have clear visions and goals - I think that's very important because it gives you a certain sense of direction.

What I'm experiencing here at the moment is a privilege that I want to enjoy. Especially because the football business is so fast-moving.

I've always done well by working very hard and staying authentic - I've done that my whole life. I think there's a good chance that the things you want will happen.

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