I figured since the big Finn's 700th game for the club was coming up against Stoke, it's time to show appreciation to our long serving rock at the back, year upon year he has provided outstanding service and more than deserves to be mentioned in the same breath with legends the likes of Dalglish, Callaghan, Hansen, St. John, Hughes, Thompson and many others.
'Phil Thompson today paid tribute to Sami Hyypia as the long-serving Anfield defender prepares to make his 700th career appearance at Stoke City this weekend.
Hyypia has played an integral role in Liverpool's march to the top of the Premier League and has belied his 35-years with a series of outstanding displays at the heart of the Reds' back-line.
With 477 games, seven league titles and two European Cups behind him, Thompson is better placed than most to assess Hyypia's career at Anfield - and he insists the big Finn deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the great Alan Hansen.
"He has been, and still is, brilliant for Liverpool," said Thommo. "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."
Rafael Benitez has spoken of his admiration for Sami Hyypia as the defender prepares to reach another career milestone.
Many pundits expected the Finland international to feature as a squad player this season, but the 35-year-old has started five out of Liverpool's last six Premier League games, and has been in outstanding form.
As he prepares to make his 700th career appearance at Stoke City this weekend, the Reds boss has paid tribute to his tower of strength at the back.
"I have a lot of confidence in Sami," said Rafa. "He is a fantastic professional so I knew he would play really well.
"Clearly, when you talk about Sami you are talking about a player who has been here for a long time.
"Everybody knows he is a nice lad, a very good professional and a very good player, so we are really pleased to keep him here.
"We have very good centre-backs here and it is good to see all of them competing for a place. That can only be good for the team."
Heres to you Sami Hyypia, an Anfield Great!!
« Last Edit: Jan 12, 2009 06:55:29 pm by JD »
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