BOSS MEN

Coaches ready to follow Hurzeler's route to top

- ANDY DEAN

WHEN Brighton appointed Fabian Hurzeler as their new head coach in the summer, the general reaction was, ‘Fabian who?’.

He had just led St Pauli to promotion to the Bundesliga but was nowhere to be seen on the bookies’ shortlist of names to replace Roberto De Zerbi.

Fast forward six months and Albion sit sixth in the Premier League and Hurzeler, 31, is the new poster boy for the movement away from oldschool British managers to progressive coaches from across Europe.

With a number of clubs wondering whether to stick or twist with their current bosses, we look at five unheralded names on the continent who could be the next to get their chance in England.

KIM HELLBERG: HAMMARBY

WHEN QPR came calling for Marti Cifuentes a year ago, Hammarby turned to Hellberg (inset, above) and have not looked back.

The 36-year-old has just led the Stockholm club to only their third second-placed finish and boasts a win ratio of almost 53 per cent.

He held talks with Sunderland last season and his name was recently in the hat for the Hearts job.