When Michael Oliver blows the final whistle at the Amex on Sunday, it will not just be the finish of Albion's second season in the Premier League and Manchester City's attempt to retain their title.

It will also signal the end of Bruno's 20-year playing career.

The Seagulls' iconic skipper announced his retirement yesterday.

Seven years at the Amex, which began with play-off heartbreak in the Championship, climaxes in the fixture that launched Albion's Premier League journey 21 months ago and will sever his glorious contribution.

Few more technically gifted players have served the club, certainly in a defensive sense, than the right-back from El Masnou to the north-east of Barcelona.

Even fewer have represented the club away from the pitch with the same level of dignity as the 38-year-old father-of-two. He must surely rank as the best free transfer signing Albion have ever made.

Bruno will be accompanied onto the pitch at the beginning of the afternoon by his children, son Pol and daughter Adriana, who are the mascots.

The emotions will be tugging him both ways when referee Oliver calls time for the very last time.

The Argus: "Of course you think about it," Bruno told The Argus. "I will feel a mixture of feelings.

"There's going to be sadness, because it's the last game at the Amex, the last game playing as a footballer from starting really young.

"But it will be a really happy moment to see what I've achieved as a footballer.

"To get to retire at 38 in the Premier League at a club like Brighton, it will be really special."

Bruno knew some months ago that this moment would arrive. He has just been taking his time "to process everything".

He's had to come to terms with the unfamiliar feeling of not being a regular in the team. He has only made 13 league starts this season since the summer signing of fellow countryman and former Valencian Martin Montoya.

"I can't remember it was a moment, it was just like a feeling," Bruno said.

"I think it's a mental process that you go through. You get to a point where you take a decision and I took it because I felt it was the right one.

"Of course it's difficult (not playing). You want to help the team, you want to be on the pitch.

The Argus: "But that has to happen at some point. I'm really proud that, when I played, as a team, we have been doing well.

"As a player you always want to be ready to help. That's what I have been doing, ready to help the team even when I haven't been playing for three months in the Premier League.

"Now was the perfect time. It's even better because we've stayed up. Coming here and seeing where we were when I came and the club signing really good players and where we are as a club and a team right now, it's really nice to have been on that journey."

The last few weeks threatened to muddy the waters. Bruno has been back in the side and others have indicated a desire to sign him but, by nature, he sticks to his guns.

"Because I've played the last few games I felt good," he said. "You are always receiving a few phone calls. That doesn't help to make the decision.

"I am the type of person that I think about any decision. It was really clear and I didn't want those games and those phone calls to stop my ambition to retire."

An ambition aided by those that have followed the same path, Liam Rosenior in particular.

Rosenior retired last summer after injury problems. He is now Albion's assistant under-23s coach to Simon Rusk and an erudite pundit for Sky Sports.

The Argus: "I've been speaking to Liam Rosenior, for example," Bruno revealed.

"He has always been supporting me. We are really good friends. He has always been there if I needed anything.

"We talk and talking can help a lot. You let your emotions go and get feedback from other people."

What next? After a short break, Bruno will sit down with the club to thrash out the detail of a post-playing role.

"A lot of passions, and a lot of ideas that I've been talking to the club about," he said. "I hope they'll work and we'll sit down and talk about them."

A manager, perhaps? "I don't know yet to be honest," he said. "That has to be a passion, and I will find out because I will start my (coaching) badges."

Bruno, as The Argus reveals in the news pages today, is becoming a British citizen. He is sticking around.

"Definitely," he said. "Right now, we're not thinking about moving from Brighton. My Missus (Racquel) and my kids love living here, and we are going to stay."