What a turnaround. Seven weeks after the Amex Stadium told Fabian Hurzeler he didn’t know what he was doing and that he would be sacked in the morning, the Brighton head coach has been nominated for March 2026 Premier League Manager of the Month.
Hurzeler led the Albion to three wins and one defeat from their four March matches. Such form was in stark contrast to a dire three month spell through December, January and February which returned a mere two victories from 14 games.
Brighton appeared to be tumbling into the relegation battle with it impossible to see where the next three points were coming from.
Losing 1-0 at home to a Crystal Palace side who themselves arrived in Sussex without a win in 12 matches across all competitions was the undoubted low point, leading many Seagulls supporters to turn on Hurzeler.
Fair play then to The Youngest Permanent Manager in Premier League History for stepping back from the abyss.
How Hurzeler was nominated for March 2026 Manager of the Month
The Albion started March with a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest. Next came the only loss of March as Premier League leaders Arsenal left the Amex with a 1-0 victory on a controversial evening.
Hurzeler spoke before the game about the Gunners’ time wasting tactics. After watching them spend 30 minutes taking set pieces and David Raya requiring treatment on three separate occasions, it was a theme he returned to afterwards.
Hearing Hurzeler call out Arsenal and Mikel Arteta whilst showing a bit of personality arguably did more to forge a much-needed connection between manager and supporters than the turnaround in results.
Next the Albion became just the third visiting side to win at the Stadium of Light this season when 1-0 victors over Sunderland.
March was rounded off with a 2-1 success over reigning champions Liverpool. Arne Slot was suitably impressed by the way Brighton played, saying afterwards it must be nice to have an Albion season ticket.
The Dutch boss may well find himself with the time to make good use of one in 2026-27 should he be sacked by Liverpool, as many Reds fans would like.
Who else has been nominated for March 2026 Premier League Manager of the Month
Hurzeler is up against Arteta, Eddie Howe, Regis Le Bris and David Moyes for the March 2026 Premier League Manager of the Month award.
Arteta led Arsenal to three wins out of three but sent everyone to sleep in doing so. Howe oversaw impressive Newcastle victories over Manchester United and Chelsea, although his month ended on a bad note with home defeat in the Tyne-Wear Derby to Sunderland.
Le Bris and his Black Cats won both their March games either side of losing to the Albion at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland’s first victory of the month came away against 1996 Coca Cola Cup runners up The Leeds United, followed up that impressive win at St James’ Park.
Like Brighton, the only defeat Everton suffered in March came at the hands of Arsenal. The Toffees beat Burnley and Chelsea for their first back-to-back wins at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Moyes has Everton on the cusp of the Champions League places in his first full season back in charge.
The winner is decided by a public vote on the Premier League website. Click here to vote for Hurzeler, if for no other reason than it will really wind up Arsenal fans and Arteta if he wins it ahead of old Lego Head.
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