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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Barney Ronay

Roberto De Zerbi brings beauty to Brighton but where can elite football go next?

Illustration of Roberto De Zerbi in front of a tactics board
‘Brighton always seem to be playing on patterns of behaviour, finding the mark in the room.’ Illustration: Nathan Daniels

Black shirt, white socks, white shoes, black hair. This week marked the one-year anniversary of the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton & Hove Albion, tactical tyro, disruptor of the Premier League overclass, fever pitch influencer, and all-round south-coast ace face.

This last bit comes from the clothing retailer Jacamo, which posted an urgent press release in midweek detailing a dramatic rise in sales “inspired by De Zerbi’s suave sideline style”. Black crew-neck jumpers are up 116%, white trainers 55%, black slim-fit stretch jeans 15%! De Zerbi wears a black jumper, white shoes and tight black trousers. He’s like the Strokes, if the Strokes were football managers. Either that or it’s now autumn.

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