Finnish defender Hyypia signs new contract with Liverpool

HELSINKI, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Sami Hyypia, one of the pillars of the Finnish national team, has extended his contract with Liverpool to run until the summer of 2009, local media reported on Monday.

"I am very happy to have agreed a new deal. This is a great club with fantastic supporters, so I'm delighted," the media quoted Hyypia as saying.

Central defender Hyypia, 34, joined the Merseyside club in 1999, from the Dutch side Willem II.

He has since become a regular in the Liverpool squad and an Anfield legend under both Gerard Houllier and the present manager Rafael Benitez, and has played 440 games in a red Liverpool shirt, scoring 32 goals, said the media.