Finnish international defender Hyypia was first recomended to Liverpool by a TV cameraman covering European football. He had been playing for Dutch side Willem II, where he helped them qualify for the Champions League. Previously, Sami had played for MyPa in his homeland of Finland as well as a trial spell at Newcastle.
On 19th May 1999, Sami was unvieled at Anfield having been purchased for £2.6 million. He immediately formed a solid partnership with Stéphane Henchoz in the centre of defence. In the 2000-2001 season he became joint captain alongside Robbie Fowler. That season, he would lift the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup. He played in all 3 finals and made his contribution felt, especially in the FA Cup final where he made 3 goal line clearences.
At the start of the 2001-2002 season, he was appointed full time captain. Early on in the season he lifted both the Chairty Shield and UEFA Super Cups. However, his form started to slide after this. In October 2003, he would be replaced by Steven Gerrard as captain and would soon also lose his place as vice-captain to Jamie Carragher.
At the end of the 2003-2004 season, Rafael Benitez joined the club. That season, he moved Jamie Carragher alongside Hyypia in the centre of defence. A chage in defensive partner saw Hyypia regain his form again. Having previously scored a crucial goal against Juventus in the quater final, Hyypia was on the pitch as Liverpool came from 3-0 down to win the Champions League. During the following summer, he signed a new 3-year contract with the club.
The 2005-2006 season had mixedf fortunes for Hyypia. In Decenber, he featured in the final of the World Club Championship, where Liverpool would lose 1-0 to Sao Paulo. Alongside the Premier League, this is the only competition that Hyypia has participated in with Liverpool and never won. At the end of the season, he featured in his second F.A. Cup Final. Despite missing his penalty, Liverpool wet on to win 3-1 in a penalty shootout against West Ham.
The 2006-2007 season saw the first and only season to date in which Hyypia played in less than 40 games. Subsequently, during the 2007 summer transfer window, Fulham, Newcastle, Reading and Wigan all showed an interest in signing Hyypia. However he decided to stay at the club for another season.
Despite facing competition from new signings Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger, Hyypia still features for the first team on a regular basis, making 40 appearences in the 2007-2008 season. he is currently in the top 20 all time appearences list for Liverpool with over 400 games under his belt. In that time he has scored a respectable 33 goals, his most recent coming in the crucial Champions League semi-final against Arsenal.
Hyypia also has 91 caps to his name for the Finnish national side since making his debut in 1992 aged just 19. This puts him 3rd in the all time appearences list, after Ari Hjelm and former team mate at Liverpool Jari Litmanen. In that time, he has scored 5 international goals. If Hyypia plays in all of Finland’s World Cup 2010 Qualification games, he will move in 2nd place and break the 100 cap mark. He has won the Finnish FA’s Player of the Year 6 times, and the Finnish Sports Writer’s award 7 times.
Dukeseee, Sept. 2008
Upon arrival at Liverpool Hyypiä immediately formed a successful central defensive partnership with Stéphane Henchoz. In the 2000 – 2001 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 lead the team to a historic cup treble: the Worthington Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup.
In 2002, Hyypiä became the full-time Liverpool captain after Redknapp, who had been blighted by long-term injuries, 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 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.
As of 2005, he has seemingly been relegated to third-choice captain after Jamie Carragher’s ascent as Gerrard’s deputy on the field. Hyypiä has made over 390 appearances for Liverpool, and has also scored over 20 goals in the process. He has climbed into the top 25 in the club’s all-time appearances table after featuring in the Carling Cup against Arsenal in 2007. 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 will keep him at Anfield until 2008.
- RMP, April 2007
Season-by-Season Bio
Season 2002-03
It was an uncharacteristically average season for the Reds captain. A virtual ever present, he was not as commanding as in previous years and prone to odd lapses of concentration. However, he was without his regular partner for much of the campaign and the burden of helping Djimi Traore along may have weighed down on him. He was also troubled by the ever changing back four at the start and hopefully will be back to his best once we have a stable defence again next season.
Season 2001-02
To be added
Season 2000/01
Hyypia was exceptional at the back for another season with the reds. His amazing last ditch tackles and long balls not only stopped the goals, but set up many as well.
Hyypia worked well with his central defensive partner Stephane Henchoz and looked strong all season. The Finn’s highlight was helping the reds to the FA Cup with three goal-line clearances in the Cup final victory over Arsenal in May.
Player Stats
