Liverpool won't be the Sami with out you

[Kaiser]

SAMI AGREES BAYER LEVERKUSEN MOVE Paul Eaton 04 May 2009 Sami Hyypia's decade of service at Liverpool Football Club will end this summer when he joins Bayer Leverkusen on a two-year deal. Hyypia underwent a medical with the German outfit this morning and will link up with his new teammates in the summer for the start of pre-season training. The Finnish international has earned legendary status at Anfield for the part he has played in the club's many successes over the past decade - and he will leave Merseyside with the best wishes of every Liverpool supporter. It's hard to believe he cost the Reds just £2.5million from Dutch outfit Willem II back in May 1999. After making his Reds debut against Sheffield Wednesday on August 7, 1999, Hyypia quickly formed a watertight partnership with Stephane Henchoz, providing the foundation for a historic treble in 2000-01. The centre-half wore the captain's armband through much of this momentous campaign in the absence of the injured Jamie Redknapp. He jointly lifted both the UEFA and FA Cups. Following the departure of Redknapp in April 2002, Gerard Houllier handed his trusty defender the captaincy on a permanent basis, though he'd be replaced by the emerging Steven Gerrard in October 2003. With the arrival of new boss Rafa Benitez in 2004 came numerous personnel changes, though it was clear Hyypia was going nowhere. However, he did have a new central-defensive partner in Jamie Carragher, who was at last given a regular slot in his preferred position. Within 12 months they were regarded as one of the most formidable pairings on the continent following Liverpool's Champions League triumph in the Ataturk. Hyypia scored one of the most memorable goals en route to Istanbul, an unstoppable volley to open the scoring against Juve in the quarter-finals. Incredibly, he played every minute of 57 consecutive European games for the Reds from November 2001 to February 2006. The arrival of young centre-halves Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel provided competition for places as Hyypia entered his twilight but, despite sometimes missing out, he continued to climb the club's all-time appearance table. In December 2008 he overtook Ron Yeats to enter the top 20. History will undoubtedly judge the big Finn to be one of the club's shrewdest pieces of business - and possibly the best pound for pound signing ever to arrive at Anfield. He showed loyalty by staying instead of big money moves to Inter,Bayern,Valencia etc, he showed leadership by captaining the side after Redknapps injury proness, scored some important goals and he had only one poor game in a Liverpool shirt which was against Drogba he wasn't match fit which says it all.I was hoping he we retire and become a coach Liverpool without him is going to be weird. I salute you Sami Hyypia Liverpool LEGEND. That word is thrown around alot

[Kompressor]

His greatest claim to fame is that he was signed in the same month that United Completed the historic and Real Treble.

[Flojo]

Gutted but he is still good enough to be playing 1st team football week in week out as proved by his defensive master class at OT so I can't say I'm surprised.Whole season without a yellow card as a CB, testament to his reading of the game.One of the most under rated CB's of the last 10 years and a snip at 2.5 million.Legend.

[Avon Barksdale]

Topic worthy?Not imo

[Kaiser]

Why enter?

[Avon Barksdale]

Why press enter (when creating topic) ?

[Necksta]

Just to think we had him on trial and decided against it..

[Kaiser]

Because he is one of the best center backs in English shores since Hansen

[Trim]

Gutted but he is still good enough to be playing 1st team football week in week out as proved by his defensive master class at OT so I can't say I'm surprised.Whole season without a yellow card as a CB, testament to his reading of the game.One of the most under rated CB's of the last 10 years and a snip at 2.5 million.Legend.

basically what i was gonna saygood luck to him in germany, love to see him back at liverpool in a coaching role when he retires from playing

[Davicious X]

Oi Bumba you have no place in this thread so if you'd kindly f*ck off the rest of us can get back to appreciating the FACT that this is important news to some people.Thank you very much for your time

[Mr Q]

Salutes.

[MEIRELES.]

10 years of defensive greatnessHis consistency >> _______Salutes. Legend from day.

[MrJibbles]

Well worth the fee paid, was a very good center half.

[Gordon Gekko]

Love this guy, real legendGood luck Sami

[The Somalian]

thought he was gonna go wolves i know mick was sniffing around him last week

[Flojo]

thought he was gonna go wolves i know mick was sniffing around him last week

He had quite a few offers to stay in England but he said it would feel weird playing for anyone other than Liverpool in England.

[Guest Wavelength]

He was actually f*ck*ng sick.

[Michel Kane]

He was actually f*ck*ng sick.

C/S.Legend TBH. Remember he used to score some dirty volleys in Europe.

[Kaiser]

His two footedness and dominance in the air>>>I remember one season he scored like 10 goals from set piecesLEGENDStil aint kicked in

[TF S4DK]

Better than Senderos.

[Avon Barksdale]

Whose gonna replace him

[Flojo]

We'll be cool with Agger, Carragher and Skrtel.

[Kaiser]

Nah Hangeland ftw

[Avon Barksdale]

We'll be cool with Agger, Carragher and Skrtel.

Mabye im wrong but isnt Agger prone to injury?Carragher is not getting any youngerCant see how them 3 last 60gamesNo youngsters coming through that could slot in or cover?

[Flojo]

If we were to get Hangeland I think only Carragher would be prepared to have a bit part role so it would make more sense to have one of the youngsters as 4th choice CB.