Fabian Hurzeler has outlined what he believes is the key to being a successful head coach in the latest episode of the Official Brighton & Hove Albion Podcast.
The 31-year-old oversaw 36 wins in 55 matches as St. Pauli boss after his appointment in December 2022, guiding them to the 2. Bundesliga title last season.
Now in charge of our men's first team, the German spoke about how he likes to build a positive environment.
“The most important thing is it's not a one-man show, it's not only me who was responsible for success at St. Pauli,” he said. “It's always a togetherness. I had a lot of great experts at St. Pauli in my team and we had a good relationship with each other – we worked together very well.
“It's important that everyone knows their role in the team and everyone is part of it in an emotional way, not in a way that you’re thinking by participating and we win then you earn more money. If you're part of it an emotional way, then you get an emotional satisfaction and that stays for the long term and that's the same feeling I have here.
“When I talked with the assistant coaches, with Andrews Crofts, with Jack Stern, with the analysts here, they are experts in their areas and I want to give them the feeling that they can trust me and that I have a lot of belief in them. They really are a part of my team.
“If everyone knows their role in a team in the club and everyone feels valued, and that they have an emotional part in this process, you can be successful. It was a big part for me in St. Pauli.
“On top of that you need the players. The players are the main decision makers on the pitch, they have to be convinced of the idea, they have to fit together, they have to support each other and then you can be successful.”
Fabian also understands that it’s not only words that help to create a strong culture.
“Leading by example, that's the main thing. You have to live it. Of course it's easy to paint some phrases, some words, some values on the wall.
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“If the staff members really feel it then you can build this culture. On top of that it's also important to have clear targets, long term and short term, because targets always give you an orientation of where you want to go.
“If you have targets, every expert in their area knows what to do and they are measurable. So you know what they want to achieve, you know what they can achieve and in the end there will be the results.
“That's why these two main things are very important for me, to create and to build this positive culture.”