Former Liverpool Star And Champions League Winner Sami Hyypia Named New Brighton Managerial

For the past two seasons Brighton have fallen short of clinching a English Premier League place via promotion from the Championship playoffs. Each time they have ended up with a new manager for various reasons, but now they will be hoping it's third time lucky with their latest appointment. Sami Hyypia, once of Liverpool's greatest players, has been named their new manager.

The one-time rock solid defender has signed a three-year contract to take over from Oscar Garcia, who quit after losing in the Championship play-off semi-finals. The ex-Finland international was sacked by Bayer Leverkusen in April. During his playing career he won the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool, and he coached in the same tournament with his former team, Leverkusen, meaning Brighton will welcome a host of European experience to their team.

Hyypia was delighted to return to England and management. He explained "Brighton are an ambitious club and I am very pleased to have been given this opportunity," Their new coach continued "I have looked at the club from top to bottom and I am very impressed by what I've seen at all levels." He was happy with the standards of their facilities, saying "I've seen the Amex Stadium and the club's new training ground and they are among the best I've seen anywhere in the world,"

Is he the right man for the job, and can his UEFA Champions League experience take Brighton in to the Premier League? With the English game known for domestic cup upsets, you wouldn't be shocked to see Brighton face their manager's former club, Liverpool, and to possibly pull off an upset.