Sami Hyypiä

Sami Hyypiä
Hyypia.jpg
Personal information
Full name Sami Tuomas Hyypiä
Date of birth 7 October 1973 (1973-10-07) (age 36)
Place of birth    Porvoo, Finland
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Playing position Centre Back
Club information
Current club Liverpool
Number 4
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1992–1995
1995–1999
1999–		 MyPa
Willem II
Liverpool		 096 0(8)
100 0(3)
308 (21)   
National team2
1992– Finland 094 0(5)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 14:03, 15 November 2008 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 20:58, 15 October 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Sami Tuomas Hyypiä (born 7 October 1973 in Porvoo) is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for Liverpool F.C. in the English Premier League. Hyypiä plays as a central defender for Liverpool F.C. and Finland. During his career at Liverpool, Hyypiä has won every honour the club are eligible for with the exception of the Premier League and FIFA Club World Championship.

Contents

Biography

Hyypiä was raised in Voikkaa, Finland[2][3], 100 miles north-east of Helsinki, to Irma and Jouko Hyypiä. Hyypiä's parents were both footballers, his father Jouko playing for Finnish team Pallo Peikot, and his mother an amateur goalkeeper. The young Sami played Ice Hockey, but his parents' influence was important to him choosing a career in football; he has stated "I guess there was only one career option for me."[4]

Career

Early Clubs

Hyypiä started his career with Pallo-Peikot where he played every position except his final destination defender [3] 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.[3] 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 £2.5 million, having been recommended to former chief executive Peter Robinson by a TV cameraman.[5] 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. 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."[6]

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,[7] Hyypiä insisted that he will stay until the end of his contract.[8] 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 2 March 2008 with his appearance vs Bolton Wanderers, Hyypiä made it into the top 20 Liverpool FC player appearances of all time.

On 8 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 30 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.

On the 22 August 2008 Premier League newcomers Stoke City F.C. offered £2.5 million for Hyypia but Liverpool rejected the offer.[9]

Hyypiä was voted in 19th place in Sky's Top 50 Premier League Foreign Players [10], in 45th place in Four Four Two magazine's 100 Greatest Foreigner Players [11], and in 38th position in "100 Players Who Shook the Kop"[12].

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 [13], ironically Hyypiä's first international goal was against the same team.

Hyypiä has been crowned footballer of the year in Finland six times.[14]

Personal life

Hyypiä is married to Susanna Rissanen. They have two sons; Rico Nestor Hyypiä[15] and Kasper Erik Hyypiä.

Career statistics

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Finland League Finnish Cup Finnish League Cup Europe Total
1992 MyPa Veikkausliiga 33 0 0 0 33 0
1993 12 0 1 0 13 0
1994 25 5 4 0 29 5
1995 26 3 4 0 30 3
Netherlands League KNVB Cup League Cup Europe Total
1995-96 Willem II Tilburg Eredivisie 14 0 0 0 - 0 0 14 0
1996-97 30 1 5 1 - 0 0 35 2
1997-98 30 0 3 0 - 0 0 33 0
1998-99 26 2 1 0 - 4 0 31 2
England League FA Cup Football League Cup Europe Total
1999-00 Liverpool Premier League 38 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 42 2
2000-01 35 3 6 0 6 1 11 0 58 4
2001-02 37 3 2 0 1 0 16 2 56 5
2002-03 36 3 3 0 4 0 12 2 55 5
2003-04 38 4 4 0 1 0 8 1 51 5
2004-05 32 2 1 0 1 0 15 1 49 3
2005-06 36 1 6 1 1 0 14 0 57 2
2006-07 23 2 0 0 1 1 5 0 29 3
2007-08 27 1 4 1 0 0 13 2 44 4
2008-09 5 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 6 1
Total Finland 96 8 9 0 105 8
Netherlands 100 3 9 1 - 4 0 113 4
England 307 21 28 2 18 2 94 8 447 33
Career Total 503 32 37 3 18 2 107 8 665 45

Career honours

MyPa

Winner

Willem II Tilburg

Liverpool

Personal awards

References

  1. ↑ "Hyypia official profile".
  2. ↑ Hyypia, Sami; Hakala, Olli (2003-09-25). "Sami Hyypia: From Voikkaa to the Premiership". Amazon / Mainstream Publishing. Retrieved on 2008-08-07.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Winter, Henry (1999-09-11). "Hyypia happy to fill the gaps in Liverpool's suspect defence". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved on 2008-08-07.
  4. ↑ "Hyypia fears Beckham threat". BBC (2001-03-22). Retrieved on 2008-08-07.
  5. ↑ "LFChistory.net - A TV cameraman brought Sami to LFC's attention". Retrieved on 2008-08-07.
  6. ↑ Walker, Michael (2005-09-17). "Liverpool's centre of culture". The Guardian. Retrieved on 2008-08-07.
  7. ↑ BBC SPORT | Football | Gossip | Tuesday's gossip column
  8. ↑ Hyypia Has No Plans To Leave
  9. ↑ Liverpool Echo
  10. ↑ "Football: Today's Top 20: The best foreign players in the Premiership". The Independent (2006-10-06). Retrieved on 2008-08-07.
  11. ↑ "Four Four Two's 100 Greatest Foreign Players , To Play in the EPL/SPL" (April 2008). Retrieved on 2008-08-07.
  12. ↑ "100 Players Who Shook the Kop: The Definitive List". Liverpool Football Club (2006-10-06). Retrieved on 2008-08-07.
  13. ↑ BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Northern Ireland | Hyypia gets Finland winner
  14. ↑ Liverpoolfc.tv: Profile
  15. ↑ Sami Hyypiä - Biography

External links

Liverpool F.C. – current squad

1 Cavalieri • 2 Dossena • 4 Hyypiä • 5 Agger • 7 Keane • 8 Gerrard • 9 Torres • 11 Riera • 12 F. Aurélio • 14 Alonso • 15 Benayoun • 16 Pennant • 17 Arbeloa • 18 Kuyt • 19 Babel • 20 Mascherano • 21 Lucas • 22 Insúa • 23 Carragher • 24 N'Gog • 25 Reina • 26 Spearing • 27 Degen • 28 Plessis • 29 Németh • 30 Itandje • 31 El Zhar • 32 Darby • 34 Kelly • 36 Irwin • 37 Škrtel • 39 Eccleston • 41 Hansen • 42 Gulácsi • Manager: Benítez
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Flag of England Jamie Redknapp		 Liverpool F.C. Captain
2002–2003		 Succeeded by
Flag of England Steven Gerrard
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Flag of Finland Arsi Harju		 Finnish Sportsman of the Year
2001		 Succeeded by
Flag of Finland Samppa Lajunen
Preceded by
Flag of Finland Jari Litmanen		 Finnish Footballer of the Year
1999 – 2003		 Succeeded by
Flag of Finland Antti Niemi
Preceded by
Flag of Finland Antti Niemi		 Finnish Footballer of the Year
2005–2006		 Succeeded by
Flag of Finland Jussi Jääskeläinen
Persondata
NAME Hyypiä, Sami Tuomas
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hyypiä, Sami
SHORT DESCRIPTION footballer
DATE OF BIRTH 1973-10-7
PLACE OF BIRTH Porvoo , Finland
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH