Brighton & Hove Albion have appointed Carl Martin as their new men’s under-18s head coach, adding another experienced development specialist to the club’s academy structure.
The move was confirmed by Brighton’s academy account, with the club also trailing the appointment on their latest news page. Martin arrives after just under seven years at Southampton.
For Albion, this is not a cosmetic appointment. Martin has worked across elite youth and senior environments, with Transfermarkt listing roles with Southampton’s under-18s, under-23s and first-team staff.
Carl Martin Adds Proven Academy Weight
Brighton’s model depends on turning academy detail into first-team value. The under-18s role is a key part of that chain, especially at a club whose recruitment work often starts before a player is close to senior football.
ReadBrighton has already covered how Albion added Oliver Mayer to Shannon Ruth’s under-21 squad, another move that underlined the club’s commitment to building depth below Fabian Hurzeler’s first-team group.
Martin now steps into the earlier stage of that pathway. His Southampton background suggests Brighton have targeted a coach comfortable working with players before the final jump into professional football.
That matters for Albion’s next cycle. Brighton are no longer just trying to produce occasional academy minutes. With the senior squad preparing for another European campaign, the club need young players who can handle tactical detail, athletic demands and first-team expectations earlier.
Martin’s appointment gives Brighton a clearer youth-development chain at a time when pathway decisions could carry real long-term value.
