Roberto De Zerbi was appointed head coach of Brighton & Hove Albion on 18 September 2022, replacing Graham Potter.

Born in Brescia, Italy, De Zerbi spent much of his 13-year playing career in the Italian lower leagues as a midfielder, before retiring in 2013.

His first coaching role was with amateur Serie D side Darfo Boario in November 2013. 

He went on to manage Palermo, Benevento and Sassuolo in Serie A, where he developed a reputation for possession-based, attacking football.

De Zerbi joined Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in May 2021 and, in his one season at the club, became the first Italian manager to lift the Ukrainian Super Cup.

After taking over at Brighton, De Zerbi's brand of exciting, attacking football frequently caught the eye and helped Brighton to a sixth-place finish in 2022/23 and a spot in next season's UEFA Europa League.

This meant they would be playing European football for the first time in their history.