10. Michel Kuipers
Flair Attributes: Foreign; Injury Prone; Interesting former career; erratic performances
Any Flair list would be incomplete without our own Former Dutch Marine. One of the most popular Albion players of all time kicks off our list. Kuipers started his career in the Dutch amateur leagues before moving to Bristol Rovers in 1999. Zero appearances later and in search of regular football, Mickey Adams brought the Dutchman in initially as a back-up to Mark Cartwright. Initially ridiculed for his poor kicking and girls name, Kuipers has overcome adversity and a list of rivals to his number 1 jersey that is as long as his sizable member. Capable of stunning saves and the rare howler, Amsterdam born Kuipers is a true Flair icon. Almost 300 appearances later he is still number 1 at the club after dispatching another rival in the form of Scottish 'goalkeeper', Graeme Smith.
9. Bas Savage
Flair Attributes: Celebration; contraversial exit from the club; brief stint with blue hair
Eyebrows were raised in February 2007 when Dean Wilkins selected free agent Bas Savage as the newest member of his flair orchestra. Bas had recently been released by Gillingham and had netted just twice in his career. However, Savage quickly became a cult hero with Albion fans as he netted crucial goals in the clubs survival battle. It was not just his goals that gained him affection, but for his 'Moonwalk' celebration which had Soccer AM creaming themselves everytime he netted. A contract dispute saw him leave the Albion and join Millwall in February 2008. But for a short time Savage was a hero down on the South Coast.
8. Lorenzo Pinamonte
Flair Attributes: Foreign; long hair
Lorenzo played 9 games for the Albion on loan from Bristol City in the 99-00 season. He was the original foreign icon at Withdean, paving the way for the likes of Turienzo, Carole, Molango and Chaigneau. Lorenzo may have only netted twice in his short spell, but it is his long term impact that has earned him his place on this list. Pinamonte later went on to play for Brentford and Leyton Orient aswell as several teams in Italy, where he still plays. Failure to capture the Italian Stallion paved the way for Bobby Zamora's arrivial at Brighton
7. Sebastien Carole
The Frenchman arrived in England alongside compatriot Alexandre Frutos in 2005. He had previously represented French powerhouse AS Monaco and had even played in the Champions League. The winger spent the whole season casually switching between world class and appalling with a typically French nonchalant attitude. His fondness for beating the same player more than once, and his inability to provide consistently quality crosses may have infuriated sections of the Withdean crowd, but all this cemented his place in the hearts of Albion Flairniacs everywhere. Sebastien left the club after using a relegation clause in his contact, and joined Leeds United, where he played around 40 games. A short spell with Darlington preceded a short and fairly unsuccessful return to the Albion. At the start of this season he joined John Barnes' Tranmere flair Reich before recently rejoining Brighton for the third time on a rolling contract.
6. Ben Roberts
Flair Attributes: Erratic; injury prone; appearance flair
It takes a great man to outflair Michel Kuipers but the "Beast from the North East" did just that. A former FA Cup Finalist with Middlesbrough in 1997, the former England Under-21 'keeper arrived at Withdean on loan during the 2002-2003 to cover for the injured Kuipers before signing permanently the following season. Roberts ticked so many boxes on the flair list that it was almost too good to be true. Dashing good looks, short sleeves and white boots ensured that he had nothing to worry about appearance wise. Performance wise he was exceptionally good value for money. His love of solo runs earned him the nickname "coco" among Albion fans, but he soon won the anti-flair fans over with consistently high performances during Brighton's play-off promotion season. A superb penalty save from Tommy Mooney in the Swindon shoot-out helped Brighton make the final. Roberts suffered a back injury which eventually led to his early retirement. Were it not for his persistent back problems he would've surely played at a higher level. He is now goalkeeping coach at League 1 rivals Yeovil Town.
5. Al Bangura
Flair Attributes: Involved in scandal; foreign
Not many Brighton players have been involved in a deportation scandal, which is exactly why the Sierra Leone born Bangura finds himself at number 5 in this illustrious list. Bangura was the subject of human trafficking as a youth. After the death of his father, Al fled to Guinea where he met a Frenchman who intended to take him to the UK and use him as a male prostitute. Once in the UK, Bangura sought asylum. Bangura came up through the ranks at Watford, playing around 60 games. It was at Watford that he was involved in a deportation case with the Home Office intending to return him to Sierra Leone, where he felt his life would be in danger. Manager Aidy Boothroyd spoke on his behalf and Watford fans gave him their support, and the decision was announced that Bangura would be allowed to stay in the UK. FLAIR! Bangura played 6 games for the Albion last season and now plays for Blackpool.
4. Darren Currie
Flair Attributes: Lazy; under achievement; appearance flair; on pitch skill
Currie has been generally regarded as one of the most naturally gifted players to grace the Football League. Often regarded as the 'poor mans Beckham', Darren possessed two good feet, a good cross, a good passing range and a reputation as a set piece specialist- all he lacked was pace. The bulk of his pre-Albion appearances were for Barnet and Wycombe Wanderers and he was voted into the 'Team of the Year' whilst with Barnet the year Brighton won the 3rd division (Barnet were relegated). Currie left Wycombe by mutual consent in 2004 and hopped aboard Mark Mcghee's flair train. He graced the hallowed shirt for just 22 games, but his impact was so great that he will forever be remembered as an Albion legend. Currie joined Ipswich for £250,000 and played 83 games for the Suffolk club. Darren nearly rejoined the Albion after leaving Luton Town, but broke the hearts of Albion Flairniacs everywhere, and instead joined Chesterfield.
3. Leon Knight
A controversial figure wherever he has been, Leon Knight played for Brighton from 2003-2006. Knight grew up in London and played for the famous 'Senrab' boys team that has produced shit loads of professional players. The 'short' striker was snapped up by Chelsea and had several loan spells in the football league with QPR, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town and finally, Brighton. After several games he was snapped up by Steve Coppell for a fee of £50,000. Knight proceeded to systematically destroy Division 2 defences and finished the league's top scorer as the Seagulls were promoted. His penalty at Cardiff secured the win. Unfortunately, this was the peak of his career, since then constant fallings out with team mates and managers alike have blighted Knight's career so much so that only Chelsea and Brighton has received money for him. Since falling out with Mark Mcghee in 2006 , Knight has played for/fallen out with: Swansea City; Barnsley (loan); MK Dons; Wycombe Wanderers; Rushden & Diamonds; Thrasyvoulos and now finds himself at SPL side Hamilton. Knight is the epitome of the type of player you find all over the Football League. He had all the talent in the world, but his attitude was appalling, and i believe that we saw the best that he had to offer. He was ruddy flair though.
2. Tony Rougier
Flair Attributes: Foreign; religious; celebration
Some may see this as a strange choice but in just six appearances, Rougier cemented himself in the Albion Flair Hall of Fame. The attacker grew up in that Cathedral of Flair- Trinidad & Tobago and has represented his nation 67 times. Rougier arrived at Withdean on loan from Reading in the 2002-03 season (widely regarded as the Flairest season in the Albions history) and scored twice in his 6 games. On his home debut, the "Trinidaddy of Cool" netted against Millwall, and unleashed a celebration that will last long in the memory of all that were there, when he imitated a Seagull. Rougier is a 'proud and passionate Christian" and was the man who advised friend and unlikely nominee for "father of the year" Dwight Yorke to 'calm down a bit with the ladies'. Rougier played against the Albion in the play-off final the following season, where a section of anti-flair elitists started 'booing' the former Albion hero. Rougier is now Technical Director of FC South End, a team who he co-founded in his homeland.
1. Federico Turienzo
A perhaps predictable choice from me, but one that may be surprising to those who were unlucky never to witness any of the Latino sex icon's 4 appearances in the Albion shirt. Turienzo arrived from Argentine giants Gimnasia La Plata for a bargain £150,000 in the summer of 2005, after a stunning trial. Mark McGhee was responsible for the arrivals of many flair gods, but it is the signing of Turienzo that he is most famous for. In his 4 appearances, he subjected Albion fans to some of the greatest displays of attacking prowess ever witnessed. On his debut against Reading (one of the highest anticipated moments in Albion history) he showed what he was made of by unleashing a long range drive which narrowly missed, before being harshly denied a penalty after being scythed down in the box. Turienzo is now terrorising defences in Italy for Cavese, but his heart will always belong with the Albion.
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