A SALUTATION FOR SAMY HYPPIA

The goal or the SCUD that he headed into Arsenal's net in the last season CL quarter-finals, is among the top 10 of my `best goal' lists.

It was officially announced yesterday that the most reliable, non-controversial fullback for Liverpool FC, Mr Samy Hyppia will be leaving the club in the summer. I wanted to write yesterday, but I was tight up with some other things like preparing invoices... hahaha...

My attachment with Hyppia is enormous. He was a surprise package bought by Gerard Houllier in 1999, simply because he was an unknown entity in England. But he proves what a bargain buy he was for Liverpool when he not only established himself to be the ROCK at the back, but also the epitome of some great wins, namely The Treble of 2001: Worthington Cup, FA Cup and UEFA.

When you had Michael Owen infront and Hyppia at the back... Liverpool registered the most solid defence and Owen together with Emile Heskey emerged as the dinamic duo not only for the club, but also for England, then. The satellite tv in Malaysia was still in its infancy, and you have to pray hard that the tv would broadcast Liverpool's game. hahaha... I remember I dare myself to spend RM70 for my first serious purchasing of LFC merchandise (Now I spend almost every month to buy anything that has an LFC logo... nuts...)

Below are 10 things you must know about Hyppia. And bear in mind, Hyppia can never go wrong with Liverpool fans. He will be cheered and respected for all his services.

MR Hyppia, this is for you : SALUTE! SALUTE! SALUTE!

1. Sami Tuomas Hyypiä (born 7 October 1973) is a Finnish footballer who plays in the centre back position. Currently, he plays for Liverpool in the English Premier League and is the captain of the Finland national football team. He will join German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in July.


2. Hyypiä began his career with Ykkönen side KuMu and soon moved to Veikkausliiga outfit MyPa. He spent four years at the club, helping them win the Finnish Cup in 1992 and 1995. He moved to Willem II Tilburg in 1995 and spent the following four years there. He became the team captain and was nominated their player of the year after helping them qualify for the UEFA Champions League.


3. Hyypiä moved to Liverpool, the team he supported as a child, in a deal worth £2.6 million. He quickly established himself in the first team, partnering Stéphane Henchoz in defence. By 2001, he regularly captained the team and that season Liverpool won a slew of honours: completing a cup treble of the Football League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup, in addition to winning the UEFA Super Cup and FA Community Shield.
   
   
4. He became full-time captain in the 2001–02 season and was part of the Football League Cup winning team in 2003. Steven Gerrard superseded him as captain in 2003 but he occasionally captained the side in his absence. Hyypiä won his highest football honour in 2005 as a part of Liverpool's victorious 2004–05 Champions League campaign.
   


5. Hyypiä has been a prominent figure in the Finland national team and has been selected as the Finnish Sports' Journalists and Football Association Player of the Year numerous times.
   
   
6. He made his debut in 1992 and since then has captained the team on various occasions, fulfilling the role of second choice captain. He is the third most capped Finnish player after Jari Litmanen and Ari Hjelm.
   
   
7. 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 marked the defender's tenth season at the club. On the 22 August 2008 Premier League newcomers Stoke City F.C. offered £2.5 million for Hyypiä but Liverpool rejected the offer.
   
   
8. On 2 March 2008 with his appearance against Bolton Wanderers, Hyypiä made it into the top 20 Liverpool FC player appearances of all time.
   
   
9. Hyypiä was voted in 19th place in Sky Sports' Top 50 Premier League Foreign Players, in 45th place in FourFourTwo magazine's 100 Greatest Foreigner Players,and in 38th position in the Liverpool's "100 Players Who Shook the Kop". Underlining the important role Hyypiä had fulfilled at Liverpool, Ian Rush noted: "He’s got to be up there with the best signings the club has ever made."
   
   
10. On 4 May 2009, it was announced that Sami had signed two-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool had offered him the chance to stay at Anfield in a coaching capacity but Sami decided to carry on playing. He will move to the Bundesliga side when his contract expires in the summer.