New Brighton boss Sami Hyypia has appointed Sammy Lee and Antti Niemi to join his backroom staff
Friday 27 June 2014 13:15, UK
New Brighton boss Sami Hyypia has appointed Sammy Lee and Antti Niemi to join his backroom staff.
In his first appointments since taking charge at Brighton and Hove Albion, Hyypia has made Lee his assistant manager and Niemi his first-team goalkeeping coach.
Lee is reunited with Hyypia having been assistant manager at Liverpool under Gerard Houllier when the Finland international was at the core of the Reds' defence.
He joins Albion from Bolton Wanderers, where he was head of the club's academy and had a brief spell as manager, and previously was coach for the England senior team under Sven-Goran Eriksson and before that with the England Under-21 team.
Niemi played in goal alongside Hyypia in the Finland team for nearly a decade before becoming the national side's goalkeeping coach, a role he will continue alongside his position with the Seagulls. His playing career included spells with Rangers, Hearts, Charlton, Southampton, Fulham and Portsmouth.
Lee and Niemi will form Hyypia's new coaching team alongside first-team coach Nathan Jones and strength and conditioning coach Thomas Barnden - who steps up from his position at the club's academy.
Hyypia said, "I am delighted Sammy and Antti have accepted our offer, and I am very pleased to welcome them to the club. Together with Nathan and Tom, they will form our first-team coaching group.
"I know both Sammy and Antti well.
"They are two great characters and will bring a great deal to the club, to the players, and to me personally as manager.
"Sammy's and Antti's coaching credentials are first rate and they complement Nathan's coaching abilities and Tom’s experience and knowledge of the physical preparation necessary for players. I'm looking forward to working with all four coaches.
"Sammy has played and coached at the top level of football domestically and with England. Antti has played in the English and Scottish Premier Leagues, so he knows British football very well. Since he retired from playing, he has coached in Finland and also with the national team."
The pair will be introduced to the first-team squad before the start of pre-season training at the club's new elite football performance centre on Monday.
