Veteran Hyypia agrees new Liverpool contract extension
Defender Sami Hyypia to stay at Liverpool until end of 2008/09
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Tuesday, 08, Apr 2008 09:21
Liverpool centre-back Sami Hyypia has agreed a one-year extension to his contract to remain at Anfield until the end of next season, his tenth.
The Finnish defender has played a more central role than he had been expecting this year following injuries and suspensions elsewhere in the squad.
And his performances have impressed manager Rafael Benitez sufficiently to offer the 34-year-old a 12-month extension to his deal until the end of the 2008/09 season.
Hyypia had reportedly attracted interest from a number of other clubs, but he has revealed that as soon as the Reds came in with a new deal for him he jumped at the chance to sign it.
"I'm delighted that everyone wants me to stay here," he told the club's official website.
"I have a good relationship with everyone at the club, the fans and the players, so it would have been a big wrench for me to leave.
"But I wasn't thinking about it too much. The most important thing for me was to concentrate on the games and if I played well then maybe the club would want me to stay."
After starting his professional career at MyPa in his homeland, Hyypia moved to the Netherlands to join Eredivisie side Willem II.
He was signed by the Anfield outfit in 1999, later becoming Liverpool captain before he was succeeded by current skipper Steven Gerrard.
Hyypia has played 440 first-team matches since his arrival and the Finn believes he can add to this number before he has to hang up his boots.
"It's not so common for a foreign player in this country to spend ten years at one club so I am delighted to stay with this great club," he concluded.
"We will see what next year brings. I will keep working hard and keep myself fit and whenever the manager needs me I will be there."