Premier League - Gerrard: Hyypia a legend

Eurosport - Sat, 23 May 09:34:00 2009

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has led the tributes to defender Sami Hyypia, who will leave the club after Sunday's final game of the season at home to Tottenham.

FOOTBALL 2009 Hyypia - 0

Hyypia, 35, will join Bayer Leverkusen on a two-year contract in the summer, ending a decade at Anfield.

Gerrard said: "It is difficult to put into words how we feel about Sami. He has been fantastic for us, a colossus.

"He certainly deserves legendary status and he is definitely one of the best players I have ever played alongside. That is the biggest compliment I can pay Sami."

Striker Dirk Kuyt said: "For me he is a top professional, one of the best I have ever met.

"Most importantly for me, Sami is also a good human being and has a good personality. I will miss him but I'm sure he will be in touch with us and Liverpool.

"It is a great achievement to play 10 years at a special club like Liverpool, especially for a foreign player, and I have a lot of respect for him.

"It's a shame he is leaving the club but things happen like this in football."

Assistant manager Sammy Lee hailed Hyypia's professional attitude and has tipped him to go into coaching once his playing days are over.

"Sami is a terrific professional, a fine player," said Lee. "Under that cool exterior there is a really emotional guy and he will certainly feel that on Sunday.

"We will too having worked with him for so long."

PA Sport

Comment 22 - 41 of 41

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  1. No doubt Hyypia is a legend! Nice one Hyypia he will­ never walk alone!!!!!!

    From bryjones71, on Sun 24 May 9:47AM

  2. poor Hyypia that on his last game's pre-posting the­ scousers lot still baffling abt Man Utd!!! What has it­ got to do with Hyypia departing LFC???

    From Brian, on Sun 24 May 8:32AM

  3. a great player, a great professional, and a great­ servant for liverpool fc.. wish him all the best in the­ future
    from a man united fan

    From Gary, on Sat 23 May 9:51PM

  4. A legend.. simple... We will miss u Sami... YNWA

    From astar786, on Sat 23 May 9:22PM

  5. sadly missed excellent defender better than any man u­ @#$%

    From yvonne, on Sat 23 May 9:09PM

  6. Most Man utd fans are narcissistic egotistical­ incompetent fools who could not even point out the City­ of Manchester on a map, NOT ALL OF YOU, just a few­ & unfortunately its those FEW fans who make me­ forget all about the sometimes brilliant football you­ play & genius manager you have, I hope the floor­ gets stained with Man utd blood on Wednesday just to­ bring some of you glory hunters straight back down to­ earth, with a Catalan flag up your cracks

    From masambasarr, on Sat 23 May 7:19PM

  7. scouse-hater, T,W,A,T !!!!!!

    From Bike 69, mabaho ka !, on Sat 23 May 6:43PM

  8. mehdi y the vary fact that he was not the center of­ attentions proves what an excellent dfender he is ..­ defenders dont want to be the center of attention...­ look at paul mcgrath or rio ... and sami is up there­ with them

    From dug i, on Sat 23 May 5:07PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Sami is no Legend common..let's face it ... he was­ a very good player and very consistent. We have never­ had seen any magic coming from him and he was never the­ center of attraction in any game whatsoever. By saying­ this I am NOt downsizing his role nor his excellent­ services and dedication to his team..no no. but i am­ just saying that he was a very good player but he is­ NOt legendary by all means...

    From mehdi y, on Sat 23 May 5:00PM

  10. Sami, thanks for all your time and effort at Liverpool­ over the years, a true gent of the game and never once ­ "lost it" on the pitch, you rolled in with a­ fair few goals as well. you are an inspiration to the­ many kids out there.

    i hope ur time in Germany is good­ and i hope we get to see you on the pitch at anfield­ again where you will get a standing ovation

    you will­ never walk alone...

    From dug i, on Sat 23 May 4:50PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Poor Hyppia, never win league title during his time at­ Liverpool... But, nice job Hyppia!!! You are playing­ like there are no tomorrow for Liverpool... Send Lucas­ at starting XI and we will see another trophiless­ season at Anfield... ahah

    From Redzwan A, on Sat 23 May 4:29PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    A trophyless season for Liverpool.....how do you lot­ feel about that now. After all the blabber from the­ countless Liverpool "supporters", the side­ ends the season with........nothing. It's a hard­ life.

    From sappercommando25, on Sat 23 May 4:24PM

  13. why didnt raffy play sammi more, he is one of the best­ defenders in the premership, better than any at­ oldtrafford, what a load of rubbish theyve got . why­ didnt liverpoolcomplain to the fa over the so called­ match that handed man u the ( trophy?). that wasnt a­ football match it was a load of garbage. arsenal had­ nothing to lose , would like to know how much fergie­ offered wenger not to play football . if it had been­ anybody else playing like that the f.a. would have been­ on them like a ton of bricks , not the beloved man utd­ ? . anything they do is ok by them .

    From ben t, on Sat 23 May 2:41PM

  14. The Tell Tale Signs of the manc Virus
    Once infected,­­ the person's taste in hairstyle, clothes, IQ and­­ voice is severely diminished leaving him with the­­ tell-tale unkempt afro, afro-moustache, silly voice,­­ violent nature, constant saying of the word­ "yu­ no wot a meen" and can of Special Brew super­ strength­ lager. Despite this affliction manc`s are­ known as­ well balanced individuals which is­ demonstrated by the­ fact that they have a chip on both­ shoulders. This is­ also confirmed by the paranoid­ attitude which exhibits­ itself in a victim culture­ attitude that someone or­ everyone is against them.­ Indeed the mere offer of a­ job to a manc will result­ in a tirade about the­ capitalist taking advantage of­ them by expecting them­ to work after 3 generatuions of­ their family have­ successfully managed to avoid any­ semblance of work.­ Typically a manc will vote Labour­ if a donkey stood­ as candidate in the sure belief that­ their giros will­ be certain to keep arriving as the­ labour party see the­ whole of mosside as supporter­ heaven. The tarts.........

    From Bike 69, mabaho ka !, on Sat 23 May 2:37PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Get a life Liverf**kers!...

    From Angelos, on Sat 23 May 2:32PM

  16. great defender in his day and a true pro! never one to­ go in and hurt anybody, always had respect for the­ referee, players like him and rare these days. well­ done sami and good luck. english football will miss­ you.

    From jon, on Sat 23 May 2:11PM

  17. Its a shame, u have to leave us soon sami.u are a great­ defender but they coach didnt give u a chance to show­ ur experience when needed in the defence line like­ against chelsea.
    We would miss ur powerful header­ during corner kicks, hope we would have a better­ defender to replace u.

    Kayode Bankole
    Nigeria

    From lordben, on Sat 23 May 2:07PM

  18. you are true LEGEND player...wish you good luck...

    From mohd suffian, on Sat 23 May 1:54PM

  19. sami is a lagendary hero
    my hero and also all liverpool­ fans
    =)

    From hakim_world, on Sat 23 May 1:45PM

  20. This SUOMI guy is a good player and awesome defending­ talent he got. Am Arsenal fan, i give a credit to Sami.­ Good luck where ever you go!

    From eddie, on Sat 23 May 1:41PM
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