Two leading contenders
This article was originally published on September 9 but has been updated with new information.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has emerged as the latest contender to replace Graham Potter at Brighton, as the Premier League side continue their search for a new head coach ahead of the return of the English top flight. Potter was confirmed as the new Chelsea head coach late last week as a replacement for the sacked Thomas Tuchel.
Contrary to reports elsewhere, the Times believes that the Celtic manager is a strong contender to replace Potter at Brighton, little more than one year after making the move to the Scottish Premiership side. In that time, Postecoglou won two trophies in his debut season in Scottish football, claiming the Scottish League Cup and wrestling back control of the league title from rivals Rangers.
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However, it isn’t just Postecoglou’s success that has seemingly intrigued Brighton. According to the Times, the Australian tactician’s style of attacking play and calm demeanour in stressful periods of his first season at the club have apparently earned him a lot of admirers at the Premier League side. However, the Celtic manager isn’t the only name on the list.
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According to the Athletic, Brighton may be able to bounce back from losing their head coach in a typically smart and efficient manner. The publication claims that the Premier League side have been preparing for the departure of Potter since early 2020 and have a shortlist of potential successors to hand, featuring managers from within the UK and abroad.
The front-runner currently seems to be Bodo/Glimt head coach Kjetil Knutsen, who has delivered back-to-back domestic titles in his native top-flight for Glimt. Alongside Knutsen is none other than Roberto De Zerbi, who has been out of work since leaving Shakhtar Donetsk in July because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Prior to his 14-month spell in Donetsk, the Italian coach made his name at Sassuolo, where his side over-achieved with consecutive eigth-placed finishes. The Athletic also claim that Brighton are looking at Luton Town manager and former Brighton defender Nathan Jones, who is currently plying his trade in the English Championship.
The final contender is Brighton-born Swansea manager Russell Martin, who is currently performing admirably at the Welsh club, playing a similar style of football that won Potter such success at the club prior to his own move to Brighton. For now, the club’s first team operations will be conducted by under-21 coach Andrew Crofts, with assistant Shannon Ruth and midfielder Adam Lallana taking on a player-coaching role.
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