Stories abound in the Premier League about dismal team ownership, from Todd Boehly invading the dressing room at Chelsea to Manchester United paying Juventus $115 million for Paul Pogba before sending him back on a free transfer.
What a treat it is, then, for the Premier League to have Tony Bloom operating Brighton. He has focused his energy on running a smart and sustainable business—a focus that has translated into excellent results on the field. Brighton is sixth in the Premier League with two games remaining and has qualified for European competition for the first time in its history.
To celebrate those achievements, Bloom announced a 20% bonus payout for all staff and players. It’s a fantastic gesture that is firmly in line with Brighton’s team-first philosophy.
But it hasn’t been all smiles at Brighton this season. The team faced massive, fundamental changes early in the season when manager Graham Potter left for Chelsea and took several of Brighton’s players and staff with him.
Here’s the formula Bloom used to turn upheaval into consistency on the field.
Expect constant change: While many Premier League clubs might have staked their futures upon keeping a talented coach and players, Bloom and Brighton took the opposite approach. They didn’t just consider a future where those people would leave, they expected it and planned accordingly.
Bloom and his staff maintain databases of players and coaches around the world who they think could elevate their program. When key departures occur, they tap into the databases. It’s a strategy that has allowed the team to endure the chaos of the Premier League and maintain its own ethos even as people depart.
Get the right leader: Potter’s era at Chelsea went badly. But before that flop, he was one of the fastest-rising stars in European soccer. Many believed Brighton’s success was solely because of his influence.
Instead of targeting traditional big names such as Mauricio Pochettino or Thomas Tuchel as a replacement for Potter, Bloom set his sights on Roberto De Zerbi. The largely unheralded Italian coach’s most recent job was leading Ukraine’s FC Shakhtar Donetsk through a war-torn season.
De Zerbi wasn’t the glamorous pick many Premier League pundits expected, but he had the intelligence and wit Brighton needed, and his time at Shakhtar proved he was comfortable working through major problems. In De Zerbi, Brighton didn’t just replace Potter. It bettered him.
Find a rising star: Brighton’s best player of the 2022 season was Marc Cucurella, a lovable left back with a surprising eye for goals.
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