Brighton have decided to end their collaboration with Roberto De Zerbi at the end of the season amidst the latter’s links to Bayern Munich.
Brighton chairman Tony Bloom confirmed De Zerbi’s imminent departure in a club statement released on Saturday, May 18.
Tony Bloom said;
“Roberto has given us two excellent seasons of service in which he has led the club to new heights, not least our first ever European campaign which will live long in the memory of Albion fans,” club chairman Tony Bloom said in a statement.
“We have mutually agreed to end Roberto’s contract at a time that suits both parties allowing us the earliest opportunity to plan for next season, and Roberto plenty of time to consider his next move and his future.”
Reacting to his imminent departure, De Zerbi confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season. He thanked the club for an opportunity to have managed Brighton to further hone his managerial skills in one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk boss admitted he is sad leaving the club but happy for what he has accomplished in his one-and-a-half-year year spell.
“I am very sad to be leaving Brighton, but I am very proud of what my players and staff have achieved with the support of everyone at the club and our amazing fans in the past two historical seasons,” De Zerbi said.
“I have really enjoyed an intense and challenging two years working in the Premier League, not least competing in four major competitions this season. Leaving now provides me with time to take a break before deciding on my future plans.”
De Zerbi recorded an instant impact on the Seagulls’ dugout after taking over from Graham Potter. He led the club to finish sixth on the Premier League table – their highest finish in the English top-flight.
This season, he led the club to the last eight of the Europa League where they lost to Roma. This season, it has been a moderate domestic campaign for the Italian with Brighton sitting 10th on the Premier League table ahead of the final matchday.
De Zerbi is open to a new managerial chapter after his Brighton spell, as per Fabrizio Romano. He has been strongly linked with Bayern Munich with Thomas Tuchel set to leave after his final Bundesliga game of the season.
De Zerbi will take charge of his last game as Brighton’s manager against Manchester United on on Sunday, May 19 before bidding farewell to the club.
