Porta's Eyes...A Liverpool legend's decade!

"Farewell to a Legend"

Sami Hyypiä

A TEARFUL Sami Hyypiä saluted Liverpool’s supporters after his emotional Anfield farewell.

Sami Hyypiä
(1999 - 2009)

A True Legend

GLORIOUS FINNISH

Sami Hyypiä waved goodbye to Liverpool after 10 years as the Reds finished the season with a 3-1 win over Spurs on Sunday. Here's the best of our snaps from an emotional day.

" Sami Sami Sami Sami Hyypia Ohh Sami Sami Sami Sami Sami Sami Hyypia..."

The veteran defender brought the curtain down on a decade of service with his 464th and final appearance for the club in the 3-1 home win over Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.

Hyypiä emerged from the bench to play the final six minutes and was given several standing ovations by the home crowd.

Hyypiä replaced Steven Gerrard and therefore played out the closing moments of his Liverpool career as captain.

Farewell to Anfield Family
-Sami Hyypiä

The 35-year-old later broke down in tears after the final whistle before being surrounded by his team-mates and being carried off the pitch on the shoulders of goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
And Hyypiä said:

“There were a few tears in my eyes at the end but I was surprised I’d managed to keep them in for so long.

“It’s a sad moment for me to leave, but I have a new challenge for me waiting in Germany now.

“I’ve always had a very good relationship with the fans. From day one they have taken me as one of their own and that hasn’t changed.”

“It would have been too perfect an ending to be honest!” added the Finland international.

Sami Hyypiä

" thanks all the fans for all their tremendous support through the years and the emotional farewell they gave him, will never forget that special day and these 10 years he played for this special club he loves so much! "

Sami Hyypiä will walk away from Anfield this weekend after 10 glorious years at Liverpool... with a promise to return...

Tribute to ten years

Anfield legends and teammates past and present - they've all had something to say about Sami Hyypia over the years. From Dalglish to Carragher - we've compiled all the quotes that matter.

He cost Liverpool just £2.5million from Dutch outfit Willem II back in May 1999
Games: 464, Goals: 35

Rafa Benitez (LFC Manager 2004 - Present)

He is a perfect professional. In every single training session and in every single game he gives 100 per cent for the team and he has been a fantastic servant to this club. He is always keen to help the youngsters and he sets them a really good example but he has also been very supportive of me and my staff since I first came to Liverpool. From my point of view, I have been really pleased to work with him and now I must wish him luck for the future.

Jamie Carragher (LFC Player 1996 - Present)

Everyone talks about foreign players like Zola, Henry and Bergkamp but they never look at Sami. In terms of consistency he's well up there with them, there's no doubt about it. Maybe he can't do something out of the blue every now and again but every week, for nine months of the season, Sami Hyypia is your man. He's definitely one of the best foreign players this country has ever seen.

Sami's been here 10 years now and has always played a large portion of the season, hardly ever missing a game. He rarely has a bad one either - and even on the times when he does, he never allows it to affect his form. He's had his critics on a couple of occasions, but has always had the character to come through those periods. Top players always bounce back when they have suffered a knock - and Sami is one of those players. He is a legend.

Kenny Dalglish (LFC Player 1977 - 1990)

Sami has been an absolutely magnificent servant to this football club. He came in and showed his worth immediately. He was made captain of the club and even when the decision was taken to make a change and give the armband to Steven Gerrard, the dignity he showed was brilliant and reflected tremendously well on him as a person. To spend 10 years at the same club is a remarkable achievement, and even more so when that club is Liverpool and the demands to succeed year after year are exceptionally high. But Sami's performance levels have always been very, very high. When he first arrived people commented that he wasn't quick - but over the years he hasn't lost any of that pace because he didn't have too much to start with! He reads the game so well and has made a massive contribution - at both ends of the pitch - to Liverpool Football Club.

John Arne Riise (LFC Player 2001 - 2008)

If something needs to be done, Sami is the one we talk to because he goes and does it. I like that about him. I have already learned a lot from him since I joined the club. If I've made a mistake in a match I ask Sami what I should have done and he gives me advice. He is a guy who holds everyone together when we need him most in hard games and tough atmospheres.

Alan Hansen (LFC Player 1977 - 1991)

I played alongside two of the greatest centre-backs of all time – Phil Thompson and Mark Lawrenson, Gary Gillespie wasn't far behind them, he was unlucky with injuries – and Hyypia would fall into that category. I would've no problem playing alongside Hyypia. If we played in partnership we'd play off one another and I think he'd be very easy to play alongside. He's a real quality player.

He is a brilliant professional and he's been a big player for such a long time for Liverpool. He leads by example and never lets them down. He hasn't got pace in abundance but positionally he is fantastic and he reads the game really well. He is a brilliant player.

Phil Thompson (LFC Player 1971 - 1984, LFC assistant manager 1998 - 2004)

He has been, and still is, brilliant for Liverpool. When you consider how much he cost then pound-for-pound he is up there with the £440,000 the club paid for Kenny Dalglish. I remember going to watch him playing for Finland against Oliver Bierhoff and Germany in Nuremberg. Bierhoff's strength was in the air and Sami never let him win a header. We signed Stephane Henchoz at the same time as Sami and he was the better known of the two and people probably expected more from him. But after a couple of days on the training pitch with Sami, I was thinking we've signed a central midfielder here because he was that authoritative and comfortable on the ball. It always makes me laugh when people started saying a few years ago his pace had gone. Sami Hyypia never had any pace to lose! What he has got is an incredible ability to read the game and that has been his biggest asset. More often than not he is in position. I'd be lying if I said that when we signed him I thought he'd still be going strong 10 years later. That's incredibly difficult to do, especially for a foreign player in the Premier League. He's a legend and, for me, Sami is in Alan Hansen's ilk.

Pepe Reina (LFC Player 2005 - Present)

He has been consistent every single week of the season and to watch him play you would never believe for a minute that he is the age he is. He makes my job much easier, the whole defence do and that is why when people talk about Ray Clemence's record I say that it is not just for me it is for the defence, and the team as a whole. One thing that people forget about Sami is the important goals he scores for the team.

Stephane Henchoz (LFC Player 1999 - 2005)

If I think of all the central defensive partners I have played alongside in my career, I would definitely say that Sami would have to be the best.

Daniel Agger (LFC Player 2006 - Present)

Carra and Sami have both been extremely helpful to me. If I have a question then they're always there to give me advice. I like to listen to the answers they give and then look to put their advice into my game. They are both really experienced players and I know I can learn a lot from them.

Markus Babbel (LFC Player 2000 - 2004)

Sami takes playing very seriously. You can see that he hates losing and wants to win. He can be really angry after defeats. For example, he cried in the changing room in the spring of 2001 after losing to Leicester. He was so disappointed with the defeat and his own performance. First I was a bit amazed with his reaction, but the incident only increased my respect for him. Only very few players cry in the changing room. It tells a lot about Sami’s attitude towards the game and what playing means to him.

Gerard Houllier (LFC Manager 1998 - 2004)

He's tall and good in the air, which is an indispensable asset when you play centre-back in England. His passing is good, right or left. He's very confident and he can hold the defence together.

Alvaro Arbeloa (LFC Player 2007 - Present)

When I first joined the club, he was really helpful to me. Sami is a good person and he is always there if you need something. Sami has been here for ten years and has been a great example to me. I am really proud to have played with him and I wish him all the best because he deserves everything.

Jari Litmanen (LFC Player 2001 - 2002)

It's so difficult to say anything which stands out about him because he has always played at a high level. I suppose that's his greatest strength, the fact that he has never failed or done anything below the standards he has set. As a teammate you know what you'll get from him and he never disappoints. Of course everybody has great moments and games but he is constantly at a good level. Think about it... Sami Hyypia, at both Liverpool and the national team over the last 10 years, hasn't missed too many games. He is always just Sami!

"It has been 10 years and he's an idol here with the fans.
Everyone loves him because he's been so good."

"You'll Never Walk Alone"

Best of luck Big Man, and thanks for ten fantastic years.
Sami Hyypiä – Legend.