Istanbul 2005 and Liverpool’s miraculous comeback in the now fabled UEFA Champions League win over AC Milan must have been quite the game for those who witnessed it ‘live’ though imagine being one of the key players on that fateful night.
Sami Hyypiä had the honour and privilege of being on the field at the Ataturk Stadium. Fans talk about the chaos and frenetic pace of the match and the end to end action though Hyypiä saw it all unfold in front of him.
Photo: Hyypiä with his eye’s on the prize after Liverpool defeat AC Milan
The affable defender, who hails from Finland, is a bonafide Liverpool legend who aside from his Champions League win, has won two FA Cups, two League Cups and also the UEFA Cup. The towering defensive stalwart was a loyal Anfield servant exemplified by his incredible 464 appearances for the Reds.
During Liverpool’s recent visit to Hong Kong, Sami Hyypiä, sat down in a group interview to talk about Liverpool’s 20th anniversary match against AC Milan and his memories of 25th May 2005.
A match which has come to define his career and is an indelible part of Liverpool history. Hyypiä is living history happy to recount the story to those eager to listen.
Hyypiä also lifted the UEFA Cup. Photo: Liverpool FC
Memories of Istanbul 2005
Hyypiä was asked when was the exact moment he knew that Liverpool would comeback strong and win the 2005 edition of the Champions league.
“Maybe, maybe not, like a moment, that we are going to win it but definitely we (Liverpool) got the belief back that we were back in the game when the second goal went in (Scored by Vladimír Šmicer)
You know, when we scored the first of course, we were thrilled with the first one, but then the second goal game came quite quickly after that.
I think when the second goal went in then we had a belief that we could come back in the game! Actually, we were back in the game because it was only one goal.
The third goal came quite quickly after that but that was only three-three so there was still a lot of time to play. When it went to penalties, you never know what’s the outcome of that.
Photo: Team Line-Ups in Istanbul 2005
I think when Jerzy Dudek saved the last penalty then, I knew that we won it. In the penalties, you can only hope we are putting the ball into the net and they are not. Luckily, we were better at that!”
Hyypiä then talked about how much contact he has with his old Liverpool teammates.
Sami Hyypiä in Hong Kong. Photo: Chris KL Lau
“We see each other in the Legends games quite a lot. I can’t say that I have a close friend from that 2005 team though I got along with all my teammates.
I think social media is now the best way to keep track what’s what everyone is doing. Through social media, you can see what they are doing and when we meet up for Liverpool’s global friendly games.
Istanbul 2005 has inspired countless poems, books, documentaries and films
For example, Jerzy Dudek and Lucas Leiva are here in Hong Kong so these are the opportunities that I can spend time with them and maybe remember how it was back in our days.
It is great that I can be part of the family and still to do this kind of Ambassador role with the club is bringing us here to Hong Kong. I can meet my old teammates and I can meet fans so that’s what I’m very grateful for!”
Virgil van Dijk: Top Notch Defender
Photo: Virgil van Dijk (Social Media)
Hyypiä then talked about Liverpool’s current defensive star, Virgil van Dijk.
“I’ve said a long time already that he’s the best centre back in the world, and he has everything in this game. He’s good on the ball; very calm on the ball, a good passer of the ball, but most of all, he’s a good defender.
He’s a big guy and when the ball is coming in the air, he wins it almost every time; he’s so quick and that helps him to defend when the ball is coming on the ground as well.
Virgil van Dijk is a great defender, but also good on the ball and can pass the ball; that’s what you need in the centre back, and also he’s a big leader. When he came to Liverpool, I noticed straight away that he’s taking charge on the field, even though he didn’t have the armband then.
I think the armband is in the right place now as you know that he’s a good leader and a good captain to lead the team. He’s that good that he’s making everyone around him play better!”
Hyypiä discussed the key moments in the changing room and the tactical switch that helped Liverpool turn a 3-0 deficit around in 2005.
“We changed the formation a little bit so that we went three at the back and I don’t know if that was more difficult for Milan? I don’t know.
Somehow I think that they (AC Milan) were not ready for the second half. We had our pride; pride to do something in the second half, because the first half was so bad so we put the effort in and maybe AC Milan took their foot off the pedal a little bit to try to control the game.
The dressing room was very quiet at half-time; a tough time and then when Rafa Benitez spoke, he spoke quite calm. He mentioned we needed to give the fans who have traveled a long way to come to support us, something.
The fans were singing, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” outside. We heard that in the dressing room and Rafa just said that we need to give the fans something to cheer on in the second half and we did it!”
A Miracle Unfolds
Was the match a miracle?
“Sometimes when you call something a miracle, I think that this was a miracle, because Italian sides usually, when they are one-nil up, they can control the game and win the game.
This Milan team we played against was a very good team. I don’t know if players from our team would have been in the starting 11 of their team as they were so good but in football, everything is possible. You just need to put the effort in and anything is possible!”
Hyypiä stressed the importance of the support in the 2005 final.
“When you look at the stadium, AC Milan fans were only behind one goal and then I think the rest of the crowd was wearing red Liverpool shirts. When we went to the warm up, when you look at the stands, there were many more Liverpool fans in the stadium though credit to you Liverpool fans as you gave the support.”
Trying out Hong Kong Treats. Photo: Chris Lau
Liverpool’s Global Reach
Hyypiä is still amazed and fascinated by the huge reach of Liverpool’s fanbase and how there are Liverpool fans all around the world that he meets as a global Ambassador.
Sami Hyypiä in Hong Kong. Photo: Chris KL Lau
“Liverpool was my favorite team as well when I was growing up, but I grew up a little bit closer to England than fans in Hong Kong. I didn’t understand how big the global support was! Obviously during my time playing for Liverpool, we came to Hong Kong to play and it was amazing to see how many people came to see our training session and how many were waiting outside the hotel.
Like when I went to bed, I still remember that I had my room where I could see the front of the hotel; before I went to bed, I saw there were some people there; when I woke up, I saw there were some people there as well!
I haven’t been to a place where there’s no Liverpool fans, wherever I go, there will be some Liverpool fans. I think it’s growing, and I think that’s very important that we try to do everything we can to make it even bigger.
It’s great that the club is bringing us closer to fans in Hong Kong. Most of the fans here in Asia don’t have the opportunity to go to England to see a game so it’s great that we are coming here to play.
The fans can see their heroes on the field and it’s actually great now that we are playing against AC Milan, because it’s been 20 years since Istanbul. I don’t think any of the old AC Milan players want to talk about it!”
Istanbul 2005 – A story that has inspired film, documentaries, books and poems; an eternal tale that Hyypiä is honoured and proud to recall as he realizes the impact it had on sport and millions of fans.
A night that will live on forever.
Thank you!
