Brighton and Hove Albion chairman and owner Tony Bloom has expressed satisfaction and shock over his team’s lot since appointing Roberto De Zerbi as manager.
The 44-year-old former attacking midfielder who is most popu;lar for a four-year stint with Napoli in the Italian Serie A as a player and a one-year stint with Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk as a manager, took over from Graham Potter in 2022.
Potter left the Seagulls for Chelsea (where he was scaled in under one season) and De Zerbi took the reins to steer Brighton to a better place. The former lower-tier English side is now one of the rising powers in the Premier League and, in 2023/24, are going to be participating in European competition for the first time in several decades.
De Zerbi, a self-proclaimed fan of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, is now wanted by a number of top clubs across Europe. He is only in his first full season in charge of the club and is already a cult hero for his achievement. He has also started the 2023/24 Premier League season right, taking nine points from a possible 12 on offer so far in the season.
He is now preparing for the UEFA Europa League where he will do battle with the managers of AFC Ajax, Olympique de Marseille and AEK Athens in Group B for a shot at the knockout rounds and possibly, the Europa League title.
Brighton chairman and owner Tony Bloom has looked back on the time De Zerbi has spent at the club with emotion, admitting that he did not expect much from the Italian.
“He [De Zerbi] has been pretty amazing,” Bloom said. “His track record, when we looked into it in a lot of detail, was exceptionally good. “But I didn’t quite realise the impact he would have when he came in. He has been hugely influential for so many players. He is so good at improving them.
“The quality of the play and the risk taking at the right times to create opportunities for the players to create chances and his tactical abilities are superb.
“He pushes everyone to go as far as they can. We are very fortunate to have him at the club. We love having him here. Long may that continue.”
He also spoke about their upcoming Europa League game against AEK Athens, which will be their first European game in several decades.
“When the game kicks off, the emotions will be very high,” he said. “I would tell the fans to enjoy the fact we are in Europe for the first time, enjoy the occasion, be in the moment and hopefully the players will give them lots of moments to enjoy, in the Premier League and in Europe.”
