Bayer Leverkusen defender Sami Hyypia has revealed that he will retire from playing football at the end of the season, bringing to an end a 19-year career.

Hyypia, 37, has been a regular for Leverkusen for the past two seasons since joining the club from Liverpool in 2009, where he spent ten successful years.
The Finland centre-back won the Champions League, UEFA Cup, League Cup and FA Cup (twice) in his time on Merseyside and in 2006 was recognized by the club's fans as the 38th best Reds player of all time.
Hyypia announced that he intends to hang up his boots at a press conference on Monday, though he will continue to work at Leverkusen as an assistant coach and will also become No. 2 to Finland boss Mixu Paatelainen.
""The decision to retire gradually grew during the season,'' Hyypia was reported as saying by Finnish TV station MTV3. ""I had no interest any more to go elsewhere to play.
""There are no regrets. Thanks to all those who have helped during the course of my career and to my relatives a big thank you, without family and friends it would not have been possible.''
(Source: Soccernet)