Rafa Benitez has hailed Sami Hyypia after the defender
opted to prolong his playing career with Bayer
Leverkusen.
Despite being offered the chance to remain at Anfield for a
further season with the option to join the coaching staff, the
35-year-old has agreed to move to the Bundesliga in the summer as
he seeks more regular first-team football.
And, although Benitez is disappointed to see Hyypia leave, he
feels he deserves the opportunity to continue playing at a high
level.
“We are disappointed for us because we will miss Sami, but we
are really happy for him because he can play two more years to his
maximum with a good team in a good league,” he said in the
Liverpool Echo.
“With three other centre backs at Liverpool it was going to be
difficult for Sami to play as often as he would like so he has
decided to go to Leverkusen and, like I said, we are happy for
him.
“The fact that we were talking to him about becoming a coach
shows how much we think of him – he is a perfect professional.
“In every single training session and in every single game, he
gives 100 percent 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.”
Hyypia has confirmed that a lack of playing time led to his
decision to quit the club, but he has not ruled out the possibility
that he could return as a coach in the future.
“The main reason is I still think I'm young enough to play
football and I know chances to play here would be limited,” he told
the club’s official website.
“I spoke to the manager and I didn't want him to make promises
about how many games I would play, but this season has been
mentally very difficult. I haven't played a lot and playing is what
I enjoy most.
“I understand it isn't possible to play enough games here for me
to be happy, so I had to look elsewhere. I got the option to go
abroad to Bayer Leverkusen. The whole package was good, they have
big plans for me and hopefully I can go there and help them to be
successful.”
He added: “Coaching is something which has always been in my
mind, but I have to take my badges first. At the end of my playing
career I will look to take the badges and then see.
“I would like to come back here one day as a coach.”
