This season will be the last season for Sami Hyypia‘s career as a professional football player. The Bayer Leverkusen defender decided to retire after this season ends.

Leverkusen had stated that Hyypia will continue his career trying to become coach by fulfilling the requirements in his hometown in Finland next season.

Leverkusen are also ready to accommodate Hyypia to start his new job by preparing a contract as a coach assistant  from July 2012.

Hyypia himself spent much of his career outside of Finland. After leaving MyPa and joined dutch team Willem II, then Liverpool signed him in 1999 and he stayed at Anfield until 2009.

In this English club, Hyypia won two FA Cups, two League Cups, two Community Shields, one UEFA Cup, one Champions League trophy and two European Super Cup trophies.

To replace Hyypia’s position next season, Leverkusen have signed Omer Toprak, the Freiburg defender who has been contracted for five seasons.

Toprak himself became the first player bought by Robin Dutt, who will start as Leverkusen coach next season to replace Jupp Heynckes who joins Bayern Munchen.