Former England striker Michael Owen has singled out a former Liverpool defensive stalwart as the most underrated player he ever shared a dressing room with during his glittering career.
Owen's glowing tribute to a Liverpool icon
Reflecting on a 17-year professional journey that took him from Liverpool to Real Madrid and Manchester United, the Ballon d'Or winner pinpointed Finnish centre-back Sami Hyypia for special praise. Owen, who scored 40 goals in 89 appearances for England, believes Hyypia's contributions are consistently overlooked in discussions about the Premier League's great defenders.
"Sami Hyypia at Liverpool," Owen told OLBG when asked to name his most underrated teammate. "I just think he was exceptional and when I listen to people talking about all the great defenders of all time in the Premier League he never gets a mention."
Owen elaborated on the qualities that made Hyypia so valuable, highlighting the subtle aspects of his game. "He was exceptional, an unbelievable player. Little things that people maybe not pick up on but no he was very, very good and as underrated players go he would be my selection."
A decade of service and silverware at Anfield
Hyypia's legacy at Liverpool is built on remarkable consistency and success. Signed for just £2.5 million from Dutch side Willem II in 1999, he went on to make 464 appearances for the Reds over a ten-year period.
His leadership and defensive solidity were cornerstone to a transformative era for the club. Hyypia captained the side and was instrumental in winning a cup treble in 2001 and, most famously, the iconic Champions League trophy in 2005 in Istanbul.
His individual accolades were equally impressive, being named in the PFA Team of the Year twice and winning Finland’s Footballer of the Year award ten times.
Carragher's verdict on a transformative signing
Owen's sentiment is strongly echoed by Hyypia's long-time defensive partner, Jamie Carragher. The Liverpool legend has previously argued that the Finnish international is the club's best Premier League-era signing, even when compared to modern greats.
In a 2021 interview with Sky Sports, Carragher explained Hyypia's profound impact. "Liverpool went from becoming a soft touch to a team who were mentally and physically very strong, and he was a massive part of that," he said.
Carragher contrasted Hyypia's arrival with that of Virgil van Dijk, acknowledging the latter's world-class ability but stressing the context of Hyypia's signing. "Sami Hyypia came in and no one had heard of him, no one had seen him play. The impact he had at Liverpool was just instrumental."
He credited Hyypia with laying the defensive foundation for the success under managers Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez, which yielded multiple domestic and European cups, though the league title remained elusive.
Such was Hyypia's bond with the club, he was offered a coaching role upon leaving in 2009. While he opted for a final playing stint at Bayer Leverkusen, he expressed a desire to return to Anfield in a coaching capacity in the future.
The endorsements from two of Liverpool's modern icons, Owen and Carragher, present a compelling case for Sami Hyypia to be reassessed as one of the Premier League's most effective and important defensive imports.
