Albion's head coach Oscar Garcia nearly signed for the Seagulls as a player.


  The 40-year-old former Barcelona star has revealed he was close to a move to the South Coast towards the end of his playing career when he was at Espanyol from 2000-04.


  Oscar, who signed a three-year contract on Friday night, said: "I am a person that acts on feelings. Maybe the feelings I had to come here are because I couldn't come as a player.


  "After the offer that I had as a player, I always followed what Brighton were doing in the league and I wanted to know the people who were working here, the owners and the directors.


  "I wanted to listen to them, what they want from me. If they want to get to the Premier League and if they want to become a bigger club. All of these things made me sure that I had made the right decision.


  "People (in Spain) have asked why I have come to a Second Division club but I said before that I move my life by my feelings. The same people asked me last season why I went to (Maccabi) Tel Aviv and for me it was a very good experience to be there. I'm sure this will be the same good experience."


  Oscar has Spanish-speaking former Albion defender Nathan Jones as assistant head coach to help him adjust to English football.


  "For me, it's very important to have Nathan beside me, because he knows the club, he knows the league," Oscar said.


  "His knowledge of football is high and I wanted a person like him beside me, helping us, helping the players. I'm sure he will do a good job here."