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Jahanbakhsh isn’t the first and won’t be the last casualty of a managerial change

Jahanbakhsh

Life in football is all about timing and breaks. Those who are in the right place at the right time can often have their career progress at a particular club turbocharged. Sadly, footballers can also be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the time has come to say that Alireza Jahanbakhsh falls into the latter category.


One of Iran’s brightest lights and Brighton and Hove Albion's record signing has been frozen out on England’s South Coast. Looking back at the events that unfolded over the summer of 2019, the current state of affairs might not come as a complete surprise.

The Seagulls kick Chris Hughton out the nest

Manchester City’s triumphant celebrations at the Amex Stadium on the 12th of May weren’t even a day old when the Brighton board decided to call time on Chris Hughton’s reign as manager, as they sacked the 61-year-old.

City had strolled to a win 4-1 win and, in doing so, had won back-to-back titles. No one thought that the Seagulls would win that game, and even as Ilkay Gundogan completed the rout on 72 minutes, the relaxed atmosphere in Brighton’s American Express Community Stadium didn’t change. The sun was out and Chris Hughton’s men had managed to avoid relegation, the summer holidays were almost upon the fans so there wasn’t any valid reason to complain.


Alireza Jahanbakhsh started the game against Pep Guardiola's men on this day but didn't see the final whistle, after Hughton hooked him off and replaced him with Jurgen Locadia. This would be the last start that the 26-year-old would get in the Premier League as the manager that had decided to put his faith in him by giving AZ Alkmaar £17m for his services, was sacked a day after the game.

Frustration at the Potter's hand

Brighton opted to appoint Swansea boss Graham Potter in what was a slightly left-field appointment at the time. The thinking behind it was to make the Seagulls a far more attacking side. However, with only 20 goals to their name, the 13th worst in the league, Brighton, still look a bit toothless in front of goal. As for relegation, the jury is nonetheless still out. As of the 17th of December, Betway have priced Brighton at 9/1 to go down, so it feels like it won’t be fireworks with Potter but neither great disappointed in the way of relegation.

What is more of a certainty, however, is that Jahanbakhsh won’t be a part of the Potter revolution at Brighton. The Iranian's only Premier League appearance this season has come as a substitute in a 2-2 draw with Wolves and it seemed that Potter may have been putting the winger in the shop window in time for January.

Jahanbakhsh has only made five match day squads and been used in one out of Brighton's 16 league games, so Potter might not have seen enough magic in the training to give Team Melli’s superstar a chance. As players do need a season to find their feet in the Premier League, and the 2019/202 season was seen as a make or break season for Jahanbakhsh, but without the opportunity, nothing is going to change.

The faith needed from Potter simply isn’t there, and now that the Brighton boss has signed a contract extension until 2025, it seems that the 26-year-old’s situation at Brighton has become untenable.


Managerial change and the fallout

In some ways, it is quite hard to even blame Graham Potter, seeing that he was not the man who decided to bring the Iranian to Brighton. If Chris Hughton had left Jahanbakhsh out in the cold, then it would be a slightly different story with more genuine questions needing answers. Even if he hasn't given up on his Premier League dream, it's impossible to see how exactly this will play out.
You could speculate about the curious case of Alizera Jahanbakhsh and what is really going on, but the truth is there are realistically two options available to him. He could wind down his contract and dig his heels in, or the door may open for him to leave Brighton. What is unlikely to happen is Potter doing a U-turn by making the player part of his plans again.
Managerial casualties are part and parcel of a footballer's life, looking at Gareth Bale Under Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid, David Luiz under Frank Lampard at Chelsea or Joe Hart under Pep Guardiola at Man City. Sometimes it’s just not meant to be.