Having skippered the Reds regularly in the absence of Jamie Redknapp or Robbie Fowler during the treble season, Hyypia was handed the captain's armband on a permanent basis in 2002.

In total, he led the team on 205 occasions – the sixth most of any man in Liverpool’s history.

The emergence of Steven Gerrard as a talismanic heartbeat of the team meant the Scouser taking over the role in October 2003, however, with Hyypia’s humility and character in accepting the wisdom of the decision a mark of the man.