Brighton make Fabian Hurzeler Premier League's youngest boss

United States-born Fabian Hurzeler has become the youngest permanent head coach in Premier League history with his appointment at Brighton.

Hurzeler, 31, joins from German side St. Pauli, who he guided to the Bundesliga after a 13-year absence this season.

He has signed a three-year contract with Brighton and will begin working as soon as his work permit is cleared.

"Fabian also has an excellent coaching pedigree and has worked with the German federation at various age group levels. We are really excited to start working with Fabian to prepare for the upcoming season."

Brighton's statement announcing Hurzeler's appointment said he will be officially unveiled at a news conference on July 2.

Several of Brighton's squad will be older than their incoming head coach. James Milner, 38, Danny Welbeck, 33, Pascal Gross, 33, and Lewis Dunk, 32, were all born before Hurzeler, among others.

The manager will not take the record for the youngest person to coach a Premier League game as Ryan Mason took charge of a Tottenham match aged 29 during a brief interim stint in 2021.

Hurzeler, who was born in Houston to a Swiss father and German mother, had spells as the assistant coach of the Germany under-18 and under-20 sides before taking charge of St. Pauli midway through the 2022-2023 season.

The club were languishing near the relegation spots when Hurzeler took over, but under his stewardship they finished a respectable fifth.

The following year -- Hurzeler's first full season as manager -- ended with St. Pauli lifting the 2.Bundesliga title on the final day of the season.

He replaces Roberto De Zerbi,   who left the south coast club at the end of the season following 1½ years at the club.