The Legend of Sami Hyypia!!

Sami Hyypia: Fearless Finn

By Mark Lomas
(Archive)

October 30, 2009

For a decade, Sami Hyypia stood as a man mountain in the heart of Liverpool's back-line; his commanding aerial presence, impeccable tackling and composure on the ball helping him lift eight trophies with the club and earning him legendary status at Anfield.

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Hyypia gave a decade of service to Liverpool.

His emotional and tearful farewell on his eventual departure from Liverpool provided a stark contrast for a player who always exuded an ice-calm temperament on the pitch - appropriate for a player whose football education came in the arctic climate of his Finnish homeland.

Hyypia was an unknown quantity when he arrived on English soil, captured by Gerard Houllier for £2.5 million from Dutch club Willem II. But fast-forward a decade and the 6ft 4in centre back has undoubtedly proved one of the best value-for-money signings in the Premier League era after establishing himself as one of the finest defenders in England and Europe.

Beginning his professional career in Finland with MyPa, Hyypia helped the club to successive runner-up spots in the Veikkausliiga in 1993, 1994 and 1995, as well as lifting two Finnish Cups in 1992 and 1995.

He made his debut for the Finnish national team aged just 19 and now stands as their captain. With 103 appearances under his belt, he is Finland's second most capped player of all time (behind former Liverpool team-mate Jari Litmanen).

It is often difficult for players who compete at the highest level for their club to deal with regular defeats when playing for a relatively small national side, but Hyypia's commitment to representing Finland was unwavering.

Having never reached a major finals, the country's best qualification campaign - for the 1998 World Cup - ended in heartbreak as Hyypia was on hand in the final group game to watch Hungary snatch a last minute equaliser and with it a play-off spot away from the disconsolate Finns. In Euro 2008 qualifying, they were also impressive - drawing home and away against Portugal and beating group winners Poland. But Hyypia and co were left to rue a 2-1 defeat to lowly Azerbaijan as they missed out on a play-off spot by three points. In 1995, Hyypia was snapped up by Dutch side Willem II after having an unsuccessful trial at Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United. The Finn would have to wait four years before his dream move to the Premier League became a reality, but after helping Willem II to Champions League qualification in 1999, Hyypia was brought to Liverpool to join Houllier's Anfield revolution.

In Hyypia's first season a formidable defensive partnership quickly developed with fellow new recruit Stefan Henchoz, as Liverpool boasted the tightest defence in the Premier League, conceding just 30 goals - an astonishing 15 less than champions Manchester United.

Liverpool also shipped fewer goals than the rest in the 2001-02 season as they claimed their then-best Premier League finish of second, pipping Manchester United to runners-up spot behind Arsenal. During Hyypia's ten-year defensive stewardship, Liverpool conceded on average 32.5 goals a season, compared to 32.3 for Manchester United who won six titles in that time.

Houllier transformed Liverpool into a team that was renowned for holding out for 1-0 victories and Hyypia and Henchoz became the cornerstone of this disciplined philosophy, earning them high acclaim from pundits and Kop fans alike, who regarded the duo as the club's best defensive pairing since Mark Lawrenson and Alan Hansen

After just one season at the club, Hyypia's impact was such that Houllier handed him the captain's armband alongside Robbie Fowler, in the wake of a long-term injury to club skipper Jamie Redknapp. It would prove to be Liverpool's most successful season since the glory days of the 1970s and 80s as the club scooped a cup treble of League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup triumphs. Further victories over Manchester United in the Charity Shield and European champions Bayern Munich in the UEFA Super Cup meant it was a mouth-watering haul of five trophies in the 2001 calendar year for the club.

Hyypia's ability to handle pressure and his calming presence at the back meant he was truly a player for the big European occasion and the Finn was an ever-present in continental football for the Reds, incredibly playing every minute of 57 consecutive European games from November 2001 to February 2006.

There were plenty of highlights in that time including a magnificent display in both legs of the 1-0 UEFA Cup semi-final victory over Barcelona in 2001 and a winner against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League quarter-final - a match which saw one of the Finn's finest performances for the Reds as he halted the advances of a talented team including Michael Ballack and Dimitar Berbatov.

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Hyypia nets against Juventus in the 2005 Champions League quarter-final.

And Hyypia played every minute of the triumphant 2005 European Cup campaign, netting past Gianluigi Buffon as Liverpool edged past Juventus 2-1 in the quarter-final first-leg at Anfield, before helping the Reds to three successive continental clean sheets - in the return leg at the Stadio delle Alpi and both semi-final ties against Chelsea.

By this time Rafa Benitez had of course taken charge at Anfield and he kept Hyypia at the heart of his defence, though perennial full-back Jamie Carragher was the Finn's new partner in the middle following the sale of Henchoz, who Benitez viewed as surplus to requirements.

Hyypia was no longer captain, after Houllier had handed the armband to an emerging Steven Gerrard, but his influence under both the Frenchman and successor Benitez was still clear for all to see. He remained an imposing defender whom attackers feared for his towering heading ability and excellent timing in the challenge. What the Finn lacked in pace, he made up for in speed of thought and intelligence both with and without the ball at his feet.

The arrival of first Daniel Agger in 2006 and then Martin Skrtel in 2008 set the wheels in motion for Hyypia's departure from Anfield as Benitez searched for a more youthful replacement for his reliable but ageing defender.

And when Hyypia was omitted from the Reds squad for the 2008-09 Champions League group stages it was clear his time at Anfield was drawing to a close. Though Benitez's hand was forced a little by UEFA regulations, the inclusion of the likes of Andreas Dossena and Philllip Degen ahead of the Finn understandably left him in the cold.

He attracted the interest of a number of Premier League teams including Newcastle and Sunderland but had no desire to play for another club in England, choosing instead to move to Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen.

Even as it appeared his Anfield career was drawing to a close, Hyypia started 16 Premier League matches in his final campaign, with his 464 games (35 goals) in all competitions for the Reds' putting him 20th in the club's all-time appearance list.

On May 24 2009, Hyypia played his final game for the club against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. Barring a remarkable defeat, Liverpool had sewn up second place in the league and had little but pride to play for, so it came as quite a shock when the Finn was, in an uncompassionate (but typically professional) move by Benitez, not included in the starting line-up.

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Sami Hyypia gets a rousing send off at Anfield

In fact, the Spanish boss only allowed Hyypia a brief cameo appearance, introducing him after 84 minutes to rapturous applause from the Anfield faithful. At the final whistle the usually composed defender broke down in tears as he said his final goodbye to the club.

Hyypia's career is far from over and the 36-year-old has already firmly established himself in the Bayer Leverkusen first team, playing in every league match this term and helping his new club to the Bundesliga summit.

For ten years Sami Hyypia oozed composure and class in the Premier League, regularly stifling the likes of Alan Shearer, Dennis Bergkamp and Ruud van Nistelrooy. As well as keeping world-class strikers at bay, the defender also contributed his fair share of goals but it is certainly his imposing defensive capabilities that remain the enduring legacy of the fearless Finn.