Seven staff leave Brighton with De Zerbi
Roberto de Zerbi: Joined Brighton in September 2022 and brought in seven staff
Written by Training Ground Guru — May 19, 2024
Seven staff have exited Brighton along with manager Roberto de Zerbi.
Yesterday (May 18th), the Seagulls confirmed that De Zerbi would be leaving the club following their final game of 2023/24 against Manchester United at the Amex.
The Italian joined Brighton in September 2022 following the departure of Graham Potter to Chelsea and oversaw their highest top-flight finish (sixth) in 2022/23 and a last-16 place in the Europa League earlier this season.
However this campaign has been less impressive, with Brighton finishing 11th and De Zerbi publicly questioning the overall ambition of the club.
The seven staff who have left along with the manager are:
- Andrea Maldera (Assistant): Italian was a video analyst with AC Milan from 2006 to 2016. Then became assistant to Andriy Shevchenko with the Ukraine national team, helping them to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020. Lived with De Zerbi in Brighton.
- Enrico Venturelli (Assistant): Was De Zerbi’s assistant at Shakhtar Donetsk, having previously worked for FIFA and UEFA in operations.
- Ricard Segarra (Head Goalkeeping Coach): Spaniard worked for Barcelona’s U18, U19 and B teams before departing for Galatasaray in January 2022.
- Marcattilio Marcattilii (Fitness Coach): Worked with De Zerbi at Foggia, Palermo, Benevento, Sassuolo and Shakhtar.
- Vincenzo Teresa (Fitness Coach): Palermo, Benevento and Sassuolo.
- Agostino Tibaudi (Fitness Coach): Joined De Zerbi’s staff at Sassuolo and continued to work with him at Shaktar Donetsk. Prior to this the Italian had worked with Sampdoria, AC Milan, Cagliari and for a season under Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea.
- Marcello Quinto (Senior PDP Coach): Midfielder played under De Zerbi at Foggia and coached at Fiorentina’s Academy after retiring in 2020. Joined January 2023.
However, Brighton announced that two 'club coaches' would be staying:
- Andrew Crofts (Development Coach): Re-joined in July 2019 as an over-aged U-23 player. Promoted to U21s Head Coach in 2021 and interim first-team manager when Graham Potter left, although he didn’t actually manage a game. His current role is as a conduit between the Academy and first team.
- Jack Stern (Assistant Goalkeeping Coach): Joined Seagulls in January 2022 from FC Cincinnati. Previously worked at West Brom's Academy before moving out to the MLS, with Montreal in 2014. Joined Cincinnati four years later.
Speaking about De Zerbi's exit, 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’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.”
De Zerbi added: “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.
“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.”
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