Bayer Leverkusen defender and former Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia has announced his retirement at the age of 37.
The Finland centre-back will take up a coaching role with the German club next season and it is also planned for him to be involved in his national team's set-up."The decision to retire gradually grew during the season," Hyypia was reported as saying by Finnish TV station MTV3.
"I had no interest any more to go elsewhere to play.
"There are no regrets. Thanks to all those who have helped during the course of my career and to my relatives a big thank you, without family and friends it would not have been possible."
Speaking about his move into coaching Hyypia added: "It will be an interesting year.
"I must get a coaching license and then I get the experience of Leverkusen and the national team coaching.
"I'm really happy about this. All who know me know I put myself fully into it. It is 100% or nothing."
During a glittering 10-year career at Anfield Hyypia, a £2.5million signing from Dutch side Willem II in 1999, won the Champions League, UEFA Cup, two FA Cups, two League Cups and two European Super Cups.
Sami Tuomas Hyypiä
~ Born October the 7th 1973
~ Height 196 cm / 6 feet 4 inches
~ Weight 89 kg / 14 stones
~ Teams:~ Height 196 cm / 6 feet 4 inches
~ Weight 89 kg / 14 stones
- Voikkaan Pallo-Peikot (= The Ball Bogys of Voikkaa [obviously translated by me, again]) 1980–1989, Voikkaa, Finland
- Kumu 1990–1991, Kuusankoski, Finland
- MyPa (Myllykosken Pallo -47) 1992–1995, Anjalankoski, Finland
- Willem II 1996–1999, Tilburg, The Netherlands
- Liverpool FC 1999-, Liverpool, England
Career
Early Clubs
Hyypiä started his career with Pallo-Peikot where he played every position except his final destination defender and KuMu, before joining Veikkausliiga club MyPa for the 1992 season. He won the Finnish Cup with MyPa in 1992 and 1995. In 1995, he went on trial at Newcastle United for a first taste of English football when he was 22. Hyypiä said "They (Newcastle) certainly helped my career. I had a two-week trial in 1995 under Kevin Keegan and it gave me an insight into English football. I was a young player in Finland and I didn't really expect it to lead to anything. I just went for the experience, but it was good experience and I enjoyed my time there. It helped me a lot at the time to see a big English club at close hand and I always look forward to going back."
Willem II Tilburg
Later that year Hyypiä joined Dutch club Willem II. Hyypiä spent four years with the Eredivisie team and soon became a favourite with the fans winning the fan's player of the year award in his final season. Hyypiä captained the side to qualification for the Champions League, although he was not to stick around to play in their European campaign the following season.
Liverpool
On 19th May 1999 Hyypiä was bought by Liverpool, the team he supported as a boy, for £2.6 million, having been recommended to former chief executive Peter Robinson by a TV cameraman. Upon his arrival, Hyypiä immediately formed a successful central defensive partnership with fellow arrival Stéphane Henchoz. In the 2000–01 season, Hyypiä shared the captaincy of Liverpool with Robbie Fowler while Jamie Redknapp, the full-time captain, was suffering from a long-term injury. During that season, Hyypiä and Fowler led the team to a historic cup treble: the Worthington Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup.
Hyypiä playing for Liverpool.In 2002, Hyypiä became the full-time Liverpool captain after Redknapp, who had been blighted by long-term injuries, and Fowler both left the club. However after such a bright start to his Liverpool career came a relative lull and in 2003 Hyypiä was replaced as Liverpool captain by Steven Gerrard.
In 2003, Hyypiä received a red card against Manchester United, the only red of his career. "Van Nistelrooy was going through and maybe I took his shirt a little bit. The referee thought so. I got a straight red card. They got a penalty. It was an agony to watch the game in the dressing room. The only red card of my career. You remember that sort of thing."
In 2004, new Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez moved Jamie Carragher from fullback to partner Hyypiä in central defence. This seemingly reinvigorated Hyypiä and the team went on to have a successful season, winning the UEFA Champions League, on the back of their solid defence. On 10 August 2005, it was reported that Hyypiä had agreed to a new three-year contract after weeks of talks with the Reds which would keep him at Anfield until 2008.
During the 2005–06 season he was relegated to third-choice captain after Jamie Carragher's ascent as Gerrard's deputy on the field. During the season he climbed into the top 25 in the club's all-time appearances table after featuring in the Carling Cup against Arsenal in January 2007.
Despite speculation in the summer of 2007 linking him to Fulham, Newcastle United, Reading and Wigan Athletic, Hyypiä insisted that he will stay until the end of his contract. On 25 August 2007 Hyypiä broke his nose during an away match against Sunderland in the Stadium of Light. He quickly returned on the pitch to play against Toulouse in the Champions League qualifying match on 28 August 2007, in which he scored the second goal for Liverpool while wearing the captain's armband in the absence of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
In April 2008, Hyypiä signed a new deal until Summer 2009 with Benitez stating he is a good role model for young defenders such as Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger. The 2008/2009 season will mark the defender's tenth season at the club.
On 2nd March 2008 with his appearance vs Bolton Wanderers, Hyypiä made it into the top 20 Liverpool FC player appearances of all time.
On 8th April 2008 he scored the equaliser between Liverpool F.C. and Arsenal F.C. in the Champions League quarterfinal. Liverpool went on to win the match scoring three more goals in the process, the final result being 4-2, taking Liverpool to the semifinals.
On 30th April 2008 he fouled Michael Ballack to give Chelsea a penalty kick in extra time of the second leg of the 2008 Champions League semifinal. Frank Lampard scored the penalty kick to put Chelsea ahead 3-2.
Hyypiä was voted in 19th place in Sky's Top 50 Premier League Foreign Players , in 45th place in Four Four Two magazine's 100 Greatest Foreigner Players , and in 38th position in "100 Players Who Shook the Kop"
Finland
Hyypiä made his debut for the Finnish national football team against Tunisia on 7 November 1992 aged 19. He is the leader of Finland's defence, and is also the second choice captain of the team. He is third in the list of all time appearances for Finland with 90. If Hyypiä plays all of Finland's qualifying game for the 2010 World cup he will reach 100 caps.
On his 50th cap in 2003, Hyypiä scored the winning goal versus Northern Ireland , ironically Hyypiä's first international goal was against the same team
Hyypiä has been crowned footballer of the year in Finland six times
Personal life Hyypiä is married to Susanna Rissanen. They have two sons; Rico Nestor Hyypiä and Kasper Erik Hyypiä.Hyypiä started his career with Pallo-Peikot where he played every position except his final destination defender and KuMu, before joining Veikkausliiga club MyPa for the 1992 season. He won the Finnish Cup with MyPa in 1992 and 1995. In 1995, he went on trial at Newcastle United for a first taste of English football when he was 22. Hyypiä said "They (Newcastle) certainly helped my career. I had a two-week trial in 1995 under Kevin Keegan and it gave me an insight into English football. I was a young player in Finland and I didn't really expect it to lead to anything. I just went for the experience, but it was good experience and I enjoyed my time there. It helped me a lot at the time to see a big English club at close hand and I always look forward to going back."
Willem II Tilburg
Later that year Hyypiä joined Dutch club Willem II. Hyypiä spent four years with the Eredivisie team and soon became a favourite with the fans winning the fan's player of the year award in his final season. Hyypiä captained the side to qualification for the Champions League, although he was not to stick around to play in their European campaign the following season.
Liverpool
On 19th May 1999 Hyypiä was bought by Liverpool, the team he supported as a boy, for £2.6 million, having been recommended to former chief executive Peter Robinson by a TV cameraman. Upon his arrival, Hyypiä immediately formed a successful central defensive partnership with fellow arrival Stéphane Henchoz. In the 2000–01 season, Hyypiä shared the captaincy of Liverpool with Robbie Fowler while Jamie Redknapp, the full-time captain, was suffering from a long-term injury. During that season, Hyypiä and Fowler led the team to a historic cup treble: the Worthington Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup.
Hyypiä playing for Liverpool.In 2002, Hyypiä became the full-time Liverpool captain after Redknapp, who had been blighted by long-term injuries, and Fowler both left the club. However after such a bright start to his Liverpool career came a relative lull and in 2003 Hyypiä was replaced as Liverpool captain by Steven Gerrard.
In 2003, Hyypiä received a red card against Manchester United, the only red of his career. "Van Nistelrooy was going through and maybe I took his shirt a little bit. The referee thought so. I got a straight red card. They got a penalty. It was an agony to watch the game in the dressing room. The only red card of my career. You remember that sort of thing."
In 2004, new Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez moved Jamie Carragher from fullback to partner Hyypiä in central defence. This seemingly reinvigorated Hyypiä and the team went on to have a successful season, winning the UEFA Champions League, on the back of their solid defence. On 10 August 2005, it was reported that Hyypiä had agreed to a new three-year contract after weeks of talks with the Reds which would keep him at Anfield until 2008.
During the 2005–06 season he was relegated to third-choice captain after Jamie Carragher's ascent as Gerrard's deputy on the field. During the season he climbed into the top 25 in the club's all-time appearances table after featuring in the Carling Cup against Arsenal in January 2007.
Despite speculation in the summer of 2007 linking him to Fulham, Newcastle United, Reading and Wigan Athletic, Hyypiä insisted that he will stay until the end of his contract. On 25 August 2007 Hyypiä broke his nose during an away match against Sunderland in the Stadium of Light. He quickly returned on the pitch to play against Toulouse in the Champions League qualifying match on 28 August 2007, in which he scored the second goal for Liverpool while wearing the captain's armband in the absence of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
In April 2008, Hyypiä signed a new deal until Summer 2009 with Benitez stating he is a good role model for young defenders such as Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger. The 2008/2009 season will mark the defender's tenth season at the club.
On 2nd March 2008 with his appearance vs Bolton Wanderers, Hyypiä made it into the top 20 Liverpool FC player appearances of all time.
On 8th April 2008 he scored the equaliser between Liverpool F.C. and Arsenal F.C. in the Champions League quarterfinal. Liverpool went on to win the match scoring three more goals in the process, the final result being 4-2, taking Liverpool to the semifinals.
On 30th April 2008 he fouled Michael Ballack to give Chelsea a penalty kick in extra time of the second leg of the 2008 Champions League semifinal. Frank Lampard scored the penalty kick to put Chelsea ahead 3-2.
Hyypiä was voted in 19th place in Sky's Top 50 Premier League Foreign Players , in 45th place in Four Four Two magazine's 100 Greatest Foreigner Players , and in 38th position in "100 Players Who Shook the Kop"
Finland
Hyypiä made his debut for the Finnish national football team against Tunisia on 7 November 1992 aged 19. He is the leader of Finland's defence, and is also the second choice captain of the team. He is third in the list of all time appearances for Finland with 90. If Hyypiä plays all of Finland's qualifying game for the 2010 World cup he will reach 100 caps.
On his 50th cap in 2003, Hyypiä scored the winning goal versus Northern Ireland , ironically Hyypiä's first international goal was against the same team
Hyypiä has been crowned footballer of the year in Finland six times
| 2010/11 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Finland | ECQ | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| Bayer Leverkusen | Europa | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Bayer Leverkusen | Ger Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Bayer Leverkusen | Bund | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 18 | 11 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||
| 2009/10 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Bayer Leverkusen | Bund | 32 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 34 | 14 | 38 | 20 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||
| Bayer Leverkusen | Ger Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Finland | WCQ | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 38 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 34 | 14 | 39 | 23 | 7 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2008/09 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Finland | WCQ | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Finland | ECQ | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 4 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | CC | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | FAC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | Prem | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | UCL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 32 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 8 | 21 | 20 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2007/08 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Liverpool | FAC | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||
| Finland | Int | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | Prem | 24 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 17 | 22 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | UCL | 12 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 41 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 14 | 31 | 28 | 4 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2006/07 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Liverpool | UCL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | Prem | 23 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 6 | 28 | 19 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | Comm | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Finland | Int | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | FAC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | CC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 30 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 7 | 37 | 21 | 4 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2005/06 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Liverpool | CC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | FAC | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | Prem | 35 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 8 | 28 | 28 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | UCL | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | CWC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | Super C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 58 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 9 | 44 | 37 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2004/05 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Finland | ECQ | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | UCL | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | Prem | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 5 | 31 | 32 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | FAC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | CC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 56 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 6 | 38 | 32 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2003/04 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Finland | Int | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | CC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | FAC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | Prem | 37 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 36 | 39 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | UEFA | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 51 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 36 | 39 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2002/03 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Liverpool | UEFA | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | UCL | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | Prem | 36 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | FAC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | CC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Finland | Int | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | Comm | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Season Totals | 57 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
| 2001/02 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC | |||||||||
| Liverpool | Comm | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | CC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | FAC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | Prem | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||
| Liverpool | UCL | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
