Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed the appointment of Sami Hyypia as their new manager.
The English Championship club have signed the 40-year old Finnish tactician who was in charge at Bayer Leverkusen until April this year.
The former Liverpool centre-back has penned a three-year deal with the Seagulls, replacing Oscar Garcia, who led the club to the promotion play-off semi-finals last season.
"I am absolutely thrilled by this appointment; Brighton & Hove Albion are an ambitious club and I am very pleased to have been given this opportunity," Hyypia told the club's official website.
"I've held extensive talks with the chairman Tony Bloom and chief executive Paul Barber. I have looked at the club from top to bottom and I am very impressed by what I've seen at all levels.
"I've seen the Amex Stadium and the club's new training ground and they are amongst the best I've seen anywhere in the world.
"I've also already met some of the key staff including Nathan Jones, the club's head of football David Burke, and Dr Helge Riepenhoff, head of medical and sports science, and I am very much looking forward to working with all of them."
