Sami Hyypia to leave Liverpool

Liverpool is to lose a grand servant in the form of Sami Hyypia.

Just a week ago, he was declaring his undivided loyalty to Liverpool, regardless of whether his contract was extended in the summer.

The Big Finn wanted to stay on at Anfield into his retirement, being involved with the game but not necessarily in management. He had no particular reason to go back to Finland, he said, and he and his family loved living in Liverpool.

Now, those dreams have been shattered. Hyypia, now 35, is off to the Bundesliga side Bayerleverkusen in the summer on a two year deal.

It will be a sad loss for both Merseyside and Liverpoool Football Club

The centre-back made more than 450 Liverpool appearances since 1999 and though he committed some howlers, he usually stood steadfast for Liverpool with his cool aloof manner and the characteristic shrug of the shoulders. Even he admitted he was not known for his speed but his strong positional play made him a firm favourite with the Kop.

Even losing his place to younger players could not draw criticism, with Hyypia once telling the Liverpool FC website: "I know I'm getting older now and maybe my best days are gone. It's very important younger players are coming through."

It's modesty like that which has helped to make Hyypia a legend as far as Liverpool is concerned. Standing 6ft 4ins tall, he always seemed to be in the right position but popped in some vital goals too, scoring 35 goals during his career with the Reds.

He also notched up 97 international caps and scored five international goals, being crowned football of the year seven times in his homeland (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008).

His transfer fee from Dutch side Willem II in May 1999 was just £2.5 million, a total bargain when you consider the decade of service and loyalty he has given to Liverpool. He wore the captain's armband on several occasions and jointly lifted both the UEFA and FA Cups. Under Gerard Houllier, he became the permanent captain before Steven Gerrard took over.

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.

Perhaps because of his shrewdness, Hyypia would have known the writing was on the wall and there can be no greater accolade when another team wants you on the pitch. His Liverpool playing days were obviously numbered with the arrival of Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger.

Hyypia was being tipped for a move to Wolvs if he didn’t stay at Liverpool so his decision to join Bayerleverkusen comes as somewhat of a surprise. But the German team wanted him and made no bones about it, perhaps something Liverpool did not do loud enough. Bayer’s sporting director, Rudi Voller rightly says Hyppia will bring experience and presence to their young squad which is ironic given it’s new blood which has probably led to his Liverpool departure.

Liverpool’s loss is undoubtedly Bayerleverkusen’s gain but he goes to Germany with his head held high and the greatest of respect from all the fans he has made at Anfield over the last decade.