the brighton way

In Brightonin the beautiful city on the English south coast, the success of Argentina in World Cup. When Alexis McAllister He returned after a two-week vacation after the World Cup in Qatar and was met with a massive and unexpected reception. He is hailed as an idol by the ‘Seagulls’ fans, his teammates and the entire club. The success of young MacAllister was felt by all of Brighton. Before the World Cup, MacAllister was a semi-known player in Europe. Now his performance as a pillar in the Argentine champions has put Brighton on the map of clubs that are a model operation.

For a number of years, Brighton & Hove Albion have been planning very well to find stability in the Premier. He achieved this after finding the fruit of a ‘scouting’ work around the world to discover very young talents in areas where they could be in front of the tentacles of the big European clubs. When Brighton wailed Everton in Goodison Park (1-4) to place eighth in the Premier, it is logical for football fans to wonder where the Caicedo, Ferguson, Sarmiento, Mitoma or Encisokeys to the current Premier success of the Italian-led team Robert De Zerbiarrived from Shaktar Donetsk and was then identified with Sassuolo’s rise to Serie A.

Behind the investments in the club is its owner, Tony Blooma millionaire from Brighton and Hove who made his fortune in the world of poker and betting, with the consultancy company starlizard. Bloom wanted to follow the family roots linked to Brighton & Hove Albion and bought the club in 2009, to invest more than 250 million euros. When he arrived, the ‘Seagulls’ were in League One (third division). Under his management, he promoted the construction of Falmer Stadium, which was inaugurated in 2011, and a new sports city sponsored by American Express. It was not until the 2016-2017 season that he would achieve the coveted promotion to the Premier League, after a 34-year wait.

Catalan was formed in that group Bruno Saltor. After nine seasons with the ‘Seagulls’, he joined Brighton’s technical structure, and was an integral part of the negotiations for the purchase from Getafe of ex-Blaugrana cucurella, a move that in one season earned the club better profits than the Stock Market. The benefit is enormous. He bought it in the summer of 2021 for 18 million and sold it, a season later, to Chelsea for 65. A better deal is impossible. This is the model example. Bet on young people in the projection, revalue and sell them. Saltor now works at Chelsea as Head of Development.

Discovering young South American soccer players, between the ages of 18 and 22, is Brighton’s specialty, with a network of scouts spread throughout the southern cone. Alexis MacAllister arrived from Argentina at the age of 20, signed by Boca Juniors. In three years, he became the team’s mainstay and world champion. They came from Ecuador Moises Caicedo Y Jeremy Sarmiento, with 18. Both made their debut at Brighton and played in the World Cup. From Paraguay, arrived Julio Enciso (18 years old), signed from Libertad de Asunción. The last, also with 18, is the Argentine Facundo Buonanottepromising attacker from Rosario Central, who chose Brighton, despite being pursued by many big European clubs.

The network is not forgetting opportunities in Europe or elsewhere. This is the case of Japan mythof the Spanish goalkeeper robert sanchezfrom Belgium Trossard or from irish Evan Ferguson, who joined Brighton in January 2019 from Bohemians. This is a request from the technician, Graham Potter, now at Chelsea, but this young center forward, just 18 years old, has already shown his prowess in the area with his goals. Ferguson scored back-to-back goals against Arsenal and Everton, making him Brighton’s youngest goalscorer in their history.

All the good news has strengthened the club and this beach and tourist city, which, despite the economic crisis and strikes spreading throughout the United Kingdom, and also suffering, lives with enthusiasm the results of the team this. Brighton (eighth) host Liverpool (sixth) in the next game on the 14th and Falmer Stadium will be packed. If the ‘seagulls’ beat the ‘reds’, with Klopp’s side having defensive problems, they will overtake them in the standings. A milestone within reach today, but unthinkable a few years ago, reflects the modernization of Brighton, a model to follow.