Roberto De Zerbi will leave Brighton & Hove Albion following the final game of the Premier League season on Sunday.
The club has confirmed the 44-year-old head coach will leave by mutual consent after two years in charge.
The Italian, who joined Brighton in September 2022 following Graham Potter’s exit, guided them to their highest-ever top-flight finish in his first campaign and in turn helped them qualify for the Europa League for the first time.
With one game remaining — against Manchester United at the Amex Stadium — they sit 10th in the Premier League table.
“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.
“We have agreed to end my time at Brighton so that the club and I can continue to work in the way that suits each of us best, following our own ideas and visions, as well as our work and human values.
“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 guided Brighton into the Europa League (Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Coaching staff members Andrea Maldera, Ricard Segarra, Marcattilio Marcattilii, Vincenzo Teresa, Agostino Tibaudi, Marcello Quinto and Enrico Venturelli will also leave the club. Andrew Crofts and Jack Stern will remain.
De Zerbi’s future has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks amid forthright comments in some of his press conferences and links to jobs at other clubs.
The club have also fallen short of his expectations of what could be achieved after finishing sixth last season despite reaching the round of 16 in Europe.
Chairman 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.
“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.
“I am sure our fans will give Roberto and his staff a wonderful and fully deserved send off at the Amex before, during and after tomorrow’s match.
“In the meantime, I’d like to thank Roberto and his staff for all their hard work in the past two seasons. They all leave our club on good terms and with our very best wishes for the future.”
(Michael Steele/Getty Images)
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