Sami Hyypia will walk away from Anfield this weekend after 10 glorious years at Liverpool... with a promise to return
The Finnish defender has been described as a "Liverpool legend" by his manager Rafa Benitez after 463 club appearances since arriving in a £2.5million deal from Dutch club Willem II in the summer of 1999.
Hyypia, 35, agreed a two year deal with the German club after admitting he was forced to leave in search of the regular first team football he believes he is still capable of.
But he insisted he had nothing but fond memories of his time at the club, and revealed he hopes to continue his Anfield love affair after being offered a coaching role by Benitez.
"I'd like to come back to Liverpool one day as a coach, and it was great to hear the manager would like me to return," the defender explained.
"Coaching has always been in my mind, but I have to take my badges first. I haven't done that yet because I want to keep playing, and I thought at this stage it would be a burden.
"But at the end of my playing career I'll look to take the badges and then see. I've so many memories of Liverpool, and really would love to return one day."
For the pragmatic Finn, his achievements at Liverpool - the Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup, Carling Cup and Super Cup - will only sink in once he has left.
Even the famously composed defender, who shows no emotion, will he hard pressed to stem the tears when he looks around the famous old stadium for the last time - as a player at least.
"I think it will only be after I've finally left that I'll be able to sit back and realise what we've done in my 10 years," said Hyypia.
"It's hard to take in now. Coming from Finland, it's not usual that you have this kind of career in one of the top teams in the world. Maybe it will only come later when I fully appreciate what I've done.
"I haven't too much time to think about it. The only thing I've been worried about this season is training hard, staying fit and doing well for the team. "But yes, it is nice to be remembered here. We've achieved quite a lot as a team and as a club and I am very happy with what we have done together.
"I've said before that the club and the fans have been so good to me. I've never had to look elsewhere because everything has always been so good for me here. It has been special."
If Hyypia has one regret, then it is failing to win the title during his time at Anfield. "I know the fans only want one thing and that's what is missing for me too," he added. "It would have been such a great achievement for the club, for the team and for me to win the Premier League, but it wasn't to be."
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