'Legend' Hyypia bids an emotional farewell a Anfield

Liverpool legend Sami Hyypia bid an emotional farewell to the club yesterday after the Reds beat Spurs 3-1 at Anfield. For an entire decade Hyypia has made Liverpool’s back line one of the best in the Premier League. A quiet, colossus who never once publicly questioned the club, even when he was stripped of the captaincy, or later the vice captaincy. His cup tally with the reds was remarkable, winning the FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup twice each. The UEFA Cup once and of course, who could forget the Champions League. Sadly the one cup that has eluded him, is the one cup that has eluded the club for twenty years, but one suspects that will be put right next term, unfortunately without the dignified Finn. Yesterday marked his 464 club appearances since arriving in a £2.5million deal from Dutch club Willem II in the summer of 1999, and the Kop displayed a special mosaic before kick off in honour of the man, simply saying ‘Sami’.

The defender was on the bench for the clash and for almost the entire game heard the crowd sing his name. With five minutes left on the clock, Benitez finally relented to the pressure and allowed the 35-year-old to come on to replace Steven Gerrard who gave Hyypia his captains arm band. During his career, he scored 35 goals, his most memorable being the sweet volley against Juventus in the Champions League quarter final in April 2005. The Hollywood ending was denied yesterday, as Hyypia almost scored his 36 goal, but his goal bound header was cleared off the line.

Once the final whistle came, the emotions ran high and as Sami bid his farewells to the crowd he had to wipe the tears from his eyes with his shirt. Then He was hoisted aloft by the team and carried on their shoulders like a hero. It was a fitting farewell to a true Anfield legend and a player that will surely be viewed as one of the Premier League's finest foreign imports.

"It was fantastic and I would like to thank the fans for that and for their wonderful support to me during the 10 years I have been at the club," Hyypia told Liverpoolfc.tv. "There were a few tears at the end and I was surprised I managed to keep them inside until then. That was a sad moment for me. I've always had a really good relationship with the fans. They have treated me as their own from day one and that will never change. I will miss them. Goodbyes are never easy but life goes on. Now I'm looking forward to a new challenge in Germany but I'm leaving Liverpool behind with great memories but sad feelings."

Benitez speaking to Sky Sports after the game said: "It was good. We wanted to win, we wanted to score more goals and to guarantee another three points so 86 points and a lot of goals was very positive and also because it was the last day of Sami it was very emotional."

"He has been a fantastic professional," The veteran Finn who will now join German side Bayern Leverkusen on a two-year-deal before almost certainly returning to Anfield in a coaching capacity.

"The last five years he has been really, really good but before was the same - so 10 years you are talking about a legend. You are talking about someone who is so good as a person and as a professional for us if he comes back quickly we will be really satisfied."

There are a great set of photo's of Sami's farewell at the official site, and can be viewed here:
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N164511090524-2032.htm

there is also a video here:
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N164512090524-2013.htm

Hyypia relishes a return as coach

Sami Hyypia has been described as a "Liverpool legend" by his manager Rafa Benitez after 463 club appearances since arriving in a £2.5million deal from Dutch club Willem II in the summer of 1999. Hyypia is also eager to take up the offer of becoming a coach at Anfield once his playing days are over.

“I'd like to come back to Liverpool one day as a coach, and it was great to hear the manager would like me to return,"

"Coaching has always been in my mind, but I have to take my badges first. I haven't done that yet because I want to keep playing, and I thought at this stage it would be a burden.”

"But at the end of my playing career I'll look to take the badges and then see. I've so many memories of Liverpool, and really would love to return one day.”

"I think it will only be after I've finally left that I'll be able to sit back and realise what we've done in my 10 years. It's hard to take in now. It is nice to be remembered here."

Rafa leaves door open for Hyypia to return as coach

Rafael Benitez has hailed Sami Hyypia as one of Liverpool’s finest buys says Liverpool's official web site. Hyypia signed a two year deal with Bayer Leverkusen earlier this week and will leave in the summer. The Liverpool defender bought for £2.5 million in 1999 was possibly Gerard Houllier’s greatest signing. “There have been a lot of good players that have not been very expensive, but clearly he is one of the best. He has been a key player for us for a long time and I think he has been a fantastic servant.” Benitez has also left the door open for Hyypia to return in a coaching role in the future “I had spoken to him about an extension with a role as a coach in order to guarantee that he would stay here for a long time. He has confidence that he can play at the maximum level for a further two years, which will be really good for him to play in another country and gain more experience. The door is open for him if he wants to come back here in a coaching role.”

Liverpool legend Sami Hyypia departs

It’s a sad day. One of Liverpool FC's most loyal servants Sami Hyypia is to leave the club at the end of the season. He has agreed to join Bayer Leverkusen on a two year deal reports today’s Telegraph. Hyypia, 36, who underwent a medical at the Bundesliga club this morning and will join his new team-mates after spending a decade on Merseyside, said: "The discussions with Bayer were very positive. They gave me the feeling they wanted to sign me. I look forward to the task in Leverkusen and hope that we will be successful together." The Finnish international was signed to Liverpool by former manager Gerard Houllier for £2.5 million from Dutch side Willem II and has, to date, scored 35 goals in 463 appearances. After making his debut in August 1999, Hyypia forged a solid partnership in the centre of defence with Stephane Henchoz. Hyypia, during his time at Anfield, has won every European and domestic trophy available other than the Premier League and in 2001 as vice-captain, led the team out for much of the season in the absence of the injured Jamie Redknapp. The popular Finn was later handed the captain’s armband on a permanent basis after Redknapp left for Tottenham.

I along with many LFC fans would like to wish Sami the best of luck with his move and will always remember him as being a solid, dedicated defender and a model professional.