Andrew Crofts says he is proud and honoured to be working with new head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
Crofts has been promoted to first-team coach under De Zerbi, who joined Albion earlier this week.
“We all went out for dinner after Roberto arrived, so it was nice to be able to speak to him properly,” said Crofts. “You can tell straight away how much passion he has for the game, and how much he wants to help Brighton. He was really enthusiastic to learn what I thought about the players, but he’s studied a lot of our games and the players and you can tell he’s obsessed.
“It means so much to be part of Roberto’s staff. I’m honoured to have been a player, captain, under-23s player-coach and under-21s head coach and now I am going to work with someone who has so much respect in the game and who I will learn so much from.
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“My journey at the club has accelerated in the last few months. I am very happy with the progress that I am making and feel very lucky. I can’t wait to see what this experience brings and to help as much as I can.”
Crofts did some work of his own as soon as he knew that De Zerbi was heading to the club, having had a taste of working with the first-team before the Italian was appointed on Sunday.
“I am a football geek. I look at lots of different teams and players and as soon as I heard Roberto was coming in I looked at what he’d done and it’s ‘wow’. He’s got so much respect from different managers and players so for him to be able to bring that to Brighton is exciting for everyone involved.
I am looking forward to working properly with the first-team, they’re a special group. I’ve got to know them a bit more recently and I knew a few from playing with them. They just want to keep pushing and growing together.”
Crofts will also be keeping a close eye on the under-21s so he can assess who can make the step up to the first team.
“I’ve got a brilliant relationship with [under-21s head coach] Shannon Ruth and the academy staff and this will be another way of enhancing that. But being a young player at Brighton & Hove Albion right now is very exciting because Roberto will give young players an opportunity if they are ready.”