Rafa Benitez today hailed Sami Hyypia as the "perfect professional" and revealed he was keen to retain the services of the defender in a coaching capacity.
The Finn will bring his 10-year association with the Reds to an end in the summer after it was announced on Monday he has agreed to join German club Bayer Leverkusen on a two-year deal when his contract expires.
Benitez has confirmed he offered Hyypia the opportunity to stay on at Anfield for a further season as well as the chance to take up a role with the coaching staff in the future.
"We are disappointed because we will miss Sami," said the Reds boss.
"He is so important that we talked about him becoming a member of the coaching staff in the future, but he thinks he can play more and wants to be involved in the first team.
"The fact that we were talking to him about becoming a coach shows how much we think of him – he is a perfect professional.
"We were talking to him about an extension to his contract and the guarantee of becoming a member of the coaching staff. That shows we were really pleased with him and how good he is as a professional."
Although disappointed to see the legendary centre-back leave, Benitez has wished him all the best for the future and confirmed the door will always be open for Hyypia to make a return to Liverpool.
"In every single training session and in every single game he gives 100 per cent for the team and he has been a fantastic servant to this club," added Benitez.
"He is always keen to help the youngsters and he sets them a really good example but he has also been very supportive of me and my staff since I first came to Liverpool.
"From my point of view, I have been really pleased to work with him and now I must wish him luck for the future.
"All the fans and all the staff at the club are sad. We were trying to keep him.
"With three other centre backs at Liverpool it was going to be difficult for Sami to play as often as he would like so he has decided to go to Leverkusen and, like I said, we are happy for him.
"We are really happy for him because he can play two more years to his maximum with a good team in a good league. So we must be pleased for him.
"It is sad, but it is his decision and we will support him."
Benitez has confirmed he offered Hyypia the opportunity to stay on at Anfield for a further season as well as the chance to take up a role with the coaching staff in the future.
"We are disappointed because we will miss Sami," said the Reds boss.
"He is so important that we talked about him becoming a member of the coaching staff in the future, but he thinks he can play more and wants to be involved in the first team.
"The fact that we were talking to him about becoming a coach shows how much we think of him – he is a perfect professional.
"We were talking to him about an extension to his contract and the guarantee of becoming a member of the coaching staff. That shows we were really pleased with him and how good he is as a professional."
Although disappointed to see the legendary centre-back leave, Benitez has wished him all the best for the future and confirmed the door will always be open for Hyypia to make a return to Liverpool.
"In every single training session and in every single game he gives 100 per cent for the team and he has been a fantastic servant to this club," added Benitez.
"He is always keen to help the youngsters and he sets them a really good example but he has also been very supportive of me and my staff since I first came to Liverpool.
"From my point of view, I have been really pleased to work with him and now I must wish him luck for the future.
"All the fans and all the staff at the club are sad. We were trying to keep him.
"With three other centre backs at Liverpool it was going to be difficult for Sami to play as often as he would like so he has decided to go to Leverkusen and, like I said, we are happy for him.
"We are really happy for him because he can play two more years to his maximum with a good team in a good league. So we must be pleased for him.
"It is sad, but it is his decision and we will support him."
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