SAMI HYYPIA bade an emotional farewell to Liverpool yesterday, admitting that a chapter in his life has come to a close.

The Finnish defender broke down in tears at the end of Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Spurs before being carried from the pitch on his team-mate’s shoulders.

Hyypia had earlier been given a wonderful reception by the Anfield crowd when he came on to the pitch as an 84th minute substitute, proudly wearing the captain’s armband which had been passed to him by skipper Steven Gerrard.

“The boss told me beforehand he would put me on at the end of the game but I think the fans helped me a bit by singing my name and I got on earlier,” said the 35-year-old.

“It was probably after Yossi Benayoun scored the third goal that he decided to put me on and it capped a great day for me.

“It was a great atmosphere and the fans were great to me and I would like to thank them a lot because from day one they took me as one of their own and it has been the same ever since.

“It is a great feeling to hear them sing your name like they did and maybe if they would have stopped singing my name at any time over the last ten years I would have known straight away that I had done something wrong or wasn’t performing on the pitch.

“That’s why I’m so happy that they are still singing my name after all this time.

“Part of my football life is ending now. I have a new challenge now and it is one I am looking forward to.”

Hyypia remains confident that Liverpool’s defence will continue to flourish following his departure and has backed Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger to fill the void.

He added: “We have really good centre- backs. I’ve been really impressed by the way Martin has come in and played so very well.

“Agger showed in the first few days that he was here he is a top player and Carra is always reliable. He is so experienced already, he is also mentally strong and is reading the game much better than he was ten years ago.

“It is a very good situation and hopefully next season the three of them will be able to stay fit and go through the season without any injuries.”

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Hyypia scored 35 goals during his 10 years at Liverpool

Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia says he will be leaving behind a club that has improved dramatically in the last 10 years when he joins Bayer Leverkusen.

The 35-year-old leaves Anfield this summer after a successful decade in which he has won numerous trophies, including the Champions League in 2005.

"It will only be after I've left I'll be able to sit back and realise what we've done in my 10 years," he said

"It is hard to take in now. It is nice to be remembered here."

Hyypia, who joined Liverpool from Dutch side Willem II in 1999 for £2.5m, is expected to make his 464th appearance for Liverpool in their final game of the season, at home to Tottenham on Sunday.

He certainly deserves legendary status and he is definitely one of the best players I have ever played alongside. Steven Gerrard

As well as the Champions League, the former club captain has also won the Uefa Cup during his time on Merseyside, as well winning the European Super Cup in 2001 and 2005, the FA Cup in 2001 and 2006 and League Cup in 2001 and 2003.

However, Hyypia admits he will leave the club regretting that was never part of a Premier League-winning side - and he reflected on this season where they came agonisingly close to dethroning Manchester United.

"The only thing that bothers me is that I will leave Liverpool without a Premier League medal, that disappoints me as much for the fans but the club will do it soon," he said.

"This season has shown that we can push any team right to the end. Everything looks very bright for next season, and hopefully the team can move their confidence up another level."

The Finland international also stated a desire to return to Liverpool in a coaching capacity in the future, something current Reds boss Rafa Benitez would encourage.

Big Sami will be sorely missed. I so hope he comes back as a coach after his two years in the Bundesliga.

"I would like to come back to Liverpool one day as a coach, and it was great to hear the manager would like me to return.

"At the end of my playing career I will look to take the badges and then see (what happens). I have so many memories of Liverpool, and really would love to return one day."

Benitez revealed that he had tried to keep Hyypia on a player-coach contract beyond the end of this season.

"Sami is so important that we talked about him becoming a member of the coaching staff in the future," he said.

"But he thought he could play more and wants to be involved in the first team.

"The fact that we were talking to him about becoming a coach shows how much we think of him, he is a perfect professional.

Steven Gerrard, who took over the Liverpool captaincy from Hyypia, also praised the central defender.

"It's difficult to put into words how we feel about Sami. He's been fantastic for us, a colossus," said Gerrard.

"He certainly deserves legendary status and he is definitely one of the best players I have ever played alongside."

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Liverpool striker Andriy Voronin’s loan move to German side Hertha Berlin will not be made permanent this summer.

The Ukranian international spent the 2008/09 season in Berlin, scoring 11 goals as they challenged for a Champions League spot.

After finishing fourth in Bundesliga, Hertha have decided not to take up the option to make the loan move permanent and Voronin confirmed the match with Karlsruhe was his last for the club to German newspaper Die Welt.

“I want to wish the club and their fans all the best in the future,” he said.

Voronin may now return to Anfield, or Rafa Benitez may opt to still sell the forward who arrived on a free transfer in 2007.

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