Sussex

Joe Sayers
Fan writer

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Season score out of 10 and overriding emotion?

A solid 8/10, and the overriding emotion is pride. A lot of praise needs to be heaped on to Fabian Hurzeler. Earlier this year, he was under immense pressure from sections of the fanbase, with questions being asked about performances and direction. But to turn things around and deliver another eighth-place finish alongside European qualification is incredible. The Albion continue to punch above their weight and Hurzeler deserves huge credit for keeping belief intact and guiding the club to a second European campaign.

Best moment and why?

Hurzeler beating his chest in front of the North Stand after we beat Liverpool at the Amex. It was one of those moments that goes beyond the result itself. The emotion, the connection with the fans and the sense of release all came together at once. Truly, it felt at that moment like things had changed and the belief around the club had returned.

Player of season and why?

Ferdi Kadioglu. He brought a constant energy all over the pitch that never wavered throughout the campaign. Whether driving forward or putting in the hard yards defensively, his commitment and intensity stood out every week. He deserved more goals this season too, which only adds to the excitement around what he could produce next time. There is a big season coming from him.

Unsung hero and why?

James Milner. The players constantly talk about how much of an influence he is on and off the pitch, and that says everything. His professionalism, leadership and standards helped create the environment needed for us to achieve our European qualification.

Biggest disappointment?

There were points and moments when, had we kept our nerve a little more, we could be talking about Champions League nights. But to be achieving Europe for a second time, you cannot be too disappointed with that.

What needs to change this summer?

Nothing needs to change, because the well-oiled machine of Brighton & Hove Albion is ticking over exactly as we would hope it to. The club is building slowly but surely towards more success.

Major hope for next season?

Simple - we have to go and win the Conference League!

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The season is done and dusted but there's more from Albion Unlimited.

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Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross believes his side were "so close to achieving" more after a 3-0 defeat by Manchester United left the Seagulls resigned to a Conference League place next season.

A draw or win would have seen Fabian Hurzeler's men secure a place in the Europa League but they were leapfrogged by Sunderland, who beat Chelsea on the final day of the season.

You can listen to the full interview above or on BBC Sounds

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Now the curtain has come down on the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, here is my end-of-season review - with a look back to what I predicted in August.

Prediction: 11th

Fabian Hurzeler's future at Brighton looked bleak mid-season, when fan discontent surfaced at Amex Stadium, but this fiercely driven and competitive young German coach turned it around to not only take Brighton into Europe, but also sign a new contract through to 2029.

After a period of uncertainty, this superbly run club now look back on an even keel and ready to move forward once more - both in Europe and domestically.

What I said in August: "Brighton are always pleasing on the eye and they will not take a backwards step under Hurzeler. Another decent season awaits."

Check out the rest of my review here

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Brighton let Europa League football slip away, but Conference League football will be a "great chance" for Fabian Hurzeler's team to win some silverware next season, believes The Telegraph's Luke Edwards.

The Seagulls have never won a major trophy, with the 1983 FA Cup final - which they lost in a replay to Manchester United - being as close as they have got.

"Brighton will be disappointed because of the manner in which it happened," Edwards told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "That Europa League spot was in their own hands going into the final game of the season, and then they went and got pumped by Manchester United.

"There will also be disappointment because the financial difference between the Europa League and Conference League is quite sizeable. But, as Crystal Palace have shown this season, it is possible to go far in the Conference League.

"Brighton have never won a major trophy, so this will be a great chance for them to win some silverware.

"There will be a bit of frustration, but I do also think there will be an immense amount of satisfaction after coming through their difficult spell this season.

"They are a brilliantly run football club, and they have been for a number of years."

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk says European qualification represents a season of success at the club.

Defeats by Leeds and Manchester United in the last two games left Brighton sweating on Brentford not getting an injury-time winner at Liverpool to deprive them of a place in next season's Conference League.

Rather than feel underwhelmed at the prospect of entering a third-ranked competition, Dunk believes it is a measure of how far Brighton have come that after never previously qualifying for Europe in their entire history, they have now done it twice in four years.

"100% it's a success" he said.

"If you look at the size of the club, should we be here? Probably not. But we overachieve a lot. That's our thing. It's hard to compete with the big boys but the manager talks about challenging the establishment and I guess we have because we're in Europe."

The season has ended with an element of uncertainty at Amex Stadium.

Coach Fabian Hurzeler offered no clarity on the future of 40-year-old James Milner, whose contract expires at the end of June.

Central defender Adam Webster is set to leave the club but Solly March and Joel Veltman are also out of contract this summer and Brighton are yet to confirm if talks are ongoing over new deals.

Brighton will start their new season slightly earlier than their Premier League rivals given they enter the Conference League at the play-off stage and play the first leg on 20 August.

Dunk thinks there are lessons to be learned from their run to the last 16 of the Europa League in 2023-24.

"It was new to us," said the 34-year-old. "I don't think anyone in the football club really knew what was going on.

"So, now we've experienced it, we have felt it. We have to back ourselves to get to the end."

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We asked for your views on Brighton securing Conference League football next season.

Here are some of your comments:

Barry: Despite somehow stumbling into Europe's lowest-tier competition, Brighton ended the season in embarrassing fashion with a limp 3-0 home defeat by Manchester United. On paper, European qualification sounds impressive; in reality, this performance exposed just how far off the pace Brighton looked against a side that had nothing to play for.

Paul: A shambolic performance from the team. Totally clueless from front to back. So fortunate to have qualified for Europe and if we play like Sunday next season we will be in a worrying position.

Fran: Very poor performance but not unexpected. It seemed like we were on the beach as nobody played well. We need to strengthen for next season as Europe (Thursday/Sunday) will not be easy. Overall, a very up and down season!

Philip: Truly awful performance after a promising start. Lack of firepower and coordination up front evident and seemed like some players had started their holidays already. Went hoping to celebrate a great season and left feeling deflated even though Europe was back on the cards.

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from all 10 fixtures on the final day of the Premier League season.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Tottenham 1-0 Everton

• West Ham United 3-0 Leeds United

• Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal

• Brighton 0-3 Manchester United

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has hailed European qualification as another significant milestone in the history of the club.

Despite the disappointment of ending the season with a 3-0 home defeat by Manchester United, Brentford's failure to win at Liverpool meant Brighton were able to reach the UEFA Conference League, even though Sunderland leapfrogged them on the final day.

It will mean a club that never played in Europe in its entire history until two seasons ago will get to experience it again next term.

The Brighton fans quickly shrugged off the disappointment of their team's performance against Manchester United to celebrate the achievement.

And Hurzeler also feels it is something to take immense satisfaction from.

"There are mixed feelings because on the one side, it was the worst timing for that kind of performance," he said.

"But on the other, it is the second time now we are in Europe so that's why we should see it more as an achievement.

"It's very important to see where we came from and to see our development in the last years.

"The club always tries to find small steps where we can [to get] the most potential from everyone.

"I see how hard the players have worked for this achievement and that's why I think it's another milestone in the history of this club."

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, speaking to BBC Match of the Day after his side qualified for the Conference League: "It was the worst time for this performance from us but we have to look at it overall in what we achieved.

"We had a difficult season with lots of highs and lows, so to finish eighth is good.

"We weren't good enough today or on our highest level today. We have to accept it. There is nothing to analyse because the season is over now. The goal distracted us and we couldn't react well to the goals.

"We had a bad run, kept going, kept fighting and that was quite positive. When you see the overall season we should be happy with what we achieved."

Listen to more from Hurzeler on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• Brighton have lost six of their nine final Premier League games of the season (W3), indeed no team have more such defeats than the Seagulls since they entered the competition in 2017-18 (also six for Burnley and Wolves).