Markus Suttner likes a challenge.

He had a job for life back home in Austria but has spread his wings by moving clubs - and countries - twice in two years.

Albion's new left-back was born and bred in Hollabrunn, best-known for wine and the academy of 24-time champions Austria Vienna.

Suttner graduated through the youth system of Vienna, or Wien as they are widely described, to become a first team regular and captain.

He played for them in the Champions League and Europa League but abandoned the comfort zone to join Ingolstadt in the German Bundesliga for two seasons and now the Seagulls.

Suttner said: "I went to school In Hollabrunn and Austria Vienna's academy is there. It's a lovely area. My whole family are there. Also the family of my wife.

"When I was 15 I played for the under-19s, then at 17 I was in the second team. I played there for three years, then there was a decision to go or stay.

"I had a few offers but I played there for nine years, from youth to a leading player and then skipper.

"It was a difficult time after we were champions in 2013. I said it was enough and it was time to leave.

"It was difficult to leave. I was at the club for 14 years. It wasn't an easy decision. You are at home, you have everything. If you stay it's the easy decision.

"But I thought it was time to leave. If I hadn't have left I would have stayed there for my whole career.

"That wouldn't be the worst thing, but if you want to get better and better you have to make the next step."

Suttner has no regrets about severing his ties to join Ingolstadt, even though they were relegated last season after surviving their first year in the Bundesliga following promotion.

"Two years in the Bundesliga was perfect," he said. "The first year we did well, the second year was good for my experience, because I was one of the leaders. We had a difficult situation but I think I did really well, then after this Brighton came in."

The Argus: After weeks of haggling over the fee, Suttner joined Albion (above) on a three-year contract for around £3 million just over a month ago, during their pre-season camp in Austria at Leogang.

He made a sound debut in Saturday's opening Premier League defeat against Manchester City at the Amex and has soon settled into the side and a different way of life with his wife in Hove.

"It's the first time I've lived by the sea," he said. "We've done a few walks.

"We have also enjoyed the sun at the beach and to look at a few restaurants and the Lanes. I am also interested in culture, so I have to look what I will do the next time - but now it's important I get my furniture!

"It's coming next week. We have a bed and enough to live with.

"One time I went to the pier with my wife. It's very cool but I was there on a weekend, so it was very busy.

"My wife likes it here but it is also a busy time for her. She finished a job in a school in Germany at the end of July.

"Now, once we are settled, she wants to look at what's possible with German as a foreign language at university or school."

The Argus: Suttner (pictured above by Paul Hazlewood at Albion's open training session at the Amex this week) has another sightseeing trip planned for the couple, up the British Airways i360 on the seafront.

He wants to scale new heights with Albion as he prepares to face a friend and foe in tomorrow's first away fixture at Leicester.

Suttner understudied Christian Fuchs for years for Austria. He expected to take over when Fuchs (below) retired from international football but head coach Marcel Koller had other ideas, prompting Suttner to also hang up his boots for his country earlier this year.

The Argus: He said: "We play in the same position and we were also fighting for the same position in the national team but we have a good friendship and it's no problem.

"If we meet there is no problem between us. I only met him at the national team. I knew him before, because he came from the same area in Austria.

"He was the skipper of the team in qualification for the European Championships. After that he retired and then I thought I would take his place but the gaffer made another decision.

"I played the first game, we won in Georgia, but I never played again. Also before, I waited four years to play and that was a long time. My game is full of passion and I will do everything in a game.

"There is also the risk of injury, so after five or six years you have to decide what is more important - and I think it's my career at the club.

"First I want to be a starting eleven player here and to help us get enough points to stay in the League.

"I hope we will stay in the League this year, then make a step up."