Liverpool’s top former captains

The captain's armband on a Liverpool shirt (Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
The captain's armband on a Liverpool shirt (Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MAY 24: Sami Hyypia of Liverpool replaces Steven Gerrard and is given the captain’s armband during his last game for Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on May 24, 2009 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MAY 24: Sami Hyypia of Liverpool replaces Steven Gerrard and is given the captain’s armband during his last game for Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on May 24, 2009 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /

Sami Hyypia

Appearances – 464

Games as captain – 205

Goals – 35

As I said on the opening slide of this article, the statistics above and several facts about each player come from LFChistory.com, and they’re brilliant, detailed profiles of each player are amazing. They wrote this about Hyypia, and I honestly couldn’t word it better.

“Sami Hyypia’s performances reminded fans of the good old days of legendary giant Ron Yeats, who was Shankly’s pillar in defence. Hyypia was Houllier’s tower and later Rafa’s. Hyypia was strong, composed and led by example. The word “legend” is often over-used and mis-used when it comes to sporting achievement. There can, however, be no doubt that the word can justifiably be used to describe the fantastic service Sami Tuomas Hyypia gave to Liverpool Football Club.”

For me, Hyypia was around in the earlier years of me supporting Liverpool. He played 10 seasons, from 1999 (one year after I was born), until 2009. While I don’t know the most about Hyypia, I’m honoured to have been around to see him play for Liverpool.

Only brilliant players send teams into downward spirals when they leave, and after Sami left, that’s exactly what happened a Liverpool. His symbolic send-off as Steven Gerrard handed over the armband for the last time was a beautiful moment in our clubs history.

What a guy.

Next: Number 5