Zigor Aranalde today revealed why he could not turn down a move home to Spain.
Albion’s chief scout is taking over as assistant boss at third-tier Albacete after little more than a year in his influential role with the Seagulls.
Aranalde insists he has loved his time in Sussex and paid tribute to Gus Poyet’s work in helping rebuild the scouting network.
But he said: “Albacete is my home town. It’s a big part of me.
“I was born in the Basque Country but I moved away to play football and I lived and was married in Albacete.
“With (manager) Antonio Gomez we will take charge of the whole club so it is a big challenge. I feel it is a step forward in my career.
“We have had such a good year here but when I got this offer I couldn’t say no.”
Aranalde reckons Albion, who brought in John Stephenson last season to handle contract negotiations, are now in a great position to identify and bring in new talent.
He said: “When I joined the club I looked at the (scouting) department with Gus and we couldn’t really find anything.
“Slowly we have put our project in place.
“Working with Gustavo has been magnificent.
“The club is going in the right direction and hopefully, sooner rather than later, will be where the stadium and the chairman deserve to be.”
Aranalde, pictured, is convinced Albion will continue to progress under Poyet.
He said: “Gustavo is a very demanding man but he is honest and straightforward and he will tell you if you have done a job well.
“He has such a capacity for work and he involves everybody in something.”
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