Hyypia to take final bow

Sat, 23 May 15:43:49 2009

Liverpool will wave goodbye to a legend on Sunday when veteran defender Sami Hyypia takes his final bow at Anfield.

The 35-year-old Finnish international will bring the curtain down on 10 years with the club, insisting Liverpool are on the brink of winning the title and promising to be back one day as a coach.

"I would like to come back to Liverpool one day as a coach, and it was great to hear the manager would like me to return," he said.

Hyypia has turned his back on lucrative contracts offered at Anfield as a player as well as a job on the coaching staff, now his season-long deal has come to a end.

But Hyypia is determined to play on regularly at the highest level possible, and has signed a two-year deal to join German club Bayer Leverkusen.

Hyypia may well get a last start in the Liverpool side against Spurs, maybe even as captain, but he will certainly figure in the proceedings.

"Coaching has always been in my mind, but I have to take my badges first. I have not done that yet because I want to keep playing, and I thought at this stage it would be a burden," he added. "But at the end of my playing career I will look to take the badges and then see (what happens). I have so many memories of Liverpool, and really would love to return one day.

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

Hyypia maintains Liverpool are closing on the title after this season's close effort.

He said: "The only thing that bothers me is that I will leave Liverpool without a Premier League medal, that disappoints me as much for the fans. But the club will do it soon. This season has shown that we can push any team right to the end. Everything looks very bright for next season, and hopefully the team can move their confidence up another level."

 

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  1. THANKYOU SAMI!!!! Named my boy after you. You will be­ missed by us all, but remember; YNWA!!!!!!

    From bad sales, on Mon 25 May 7:24AM
  2. I agree Rafa is a 'feud fueling hooligan'

    From Skittles, on Sun 24 May 1:22PM
  3. Oh look, another man u scum 'supporter' (no­ doubt from London) appearing on a Liverpool FC related­ post. The fact is Rafa said what others thought, he­ does influence refs, he does get away with his @#$%ing­ mouth that he can't control, and he is hated by­ everyone but the glory hunting 'fans'. YNWA­ Rafa, good on ya giving Ferguson no respect, bout time.

    From Jan T, on Sun 24 May 12:40PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    RAFA IS SHOWING SIGNS OF ILLNESS BY NOT CONGRATULATING­ FERGIE

    Rafa is behaving like­ a thug, Rivalry is­ always going to exist in sport and­ come with it the­ mind games, war of words etc etc, but­ when the contest­ is over it takes only a true­ gentleman/sport to put­ all issues aside and­ congratulate the winner,­ obviously Rafa is in-capable­ of this simple task of­ behaving in a gentlemanly like manner­ but instead he­ chooses to take his issues to another­ level, the level­ one would say is close in liking to­ the behavior of a­ criminal thug, spoilt child or a­ schizophrenic,­ schizophrenics cannot forgive and forget­ easily, thugs­ are the same. I mean with the way Rafa is­ behaving one­ would assume that if he were to meet­ Fergie in a pub­ he would want a fight/brawl with­ fergie, just like the­ way a football hooligan would­ behave at a game because­ his team have lost.
    My advice­ to you Fergie is simple?­ make sure you have cctv­ installed at your home just­ incase Rafa comes down­ wearing his doctor martins and­ baseball cap, armed with­ stones and bricks and starts­ breaking your windows,­ just be careful his behavior is­ definitely showing­ signs of a proper MADMAN, don’t­ take any chances­ Fergie don’t even park your car­ anywhere where Rafa­ might find it.
    My advice to you­ Rafa is grow up mate,­ your attitude/behavior stink,­ its not a good example to­ show young kids/fans who­ watch the game, behavior like­ yours could once again­ breed violence and thug-ism into­ the game.

    From who am i, on Sun 24 May 10:34AM
  5. Thanks Sami, great player. All the best!!!! COME ON YOU­ REDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Robin and Gosia y el nino Samuel!!!!!

    From robinson, on Sat 23 May 11:14PM
  6. auf wieder sehen, sami
    :O)
    du bist der beste man !
    YNWA­
    THE MOUNTAIN TOP OF SWITZERLAND

    From Raphael, on Sat 23 May 5:15PM
  7. fair play was a good defender on par with rio and­ vidic. imma united fan.

    From stuart, on Sat 23 May 4:18PM
  8. hypia, better than vidic and rio! i love sami!

    From Claire, on Sat 23 May 4:10PM
  9. Hyypia, the man is a legend! One of the best defenders­ to ever grace the premiership. The best header of a­ ball i have ever seen. Sorely missed. Best of luck in­ Germany!

    From Steve, on Sat 23 May 4:08PM
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