Hyypiä to take sole command at Leverkusen

Sami Hyypiä will take sole charge of Bayer 04 Leverkusen next season after the Bundesliga side confirmed the end of the Finn's partnership with Sascha Lewandowski.

Lewandowski and Hyypiä, coach and team manager respectively, were handed the reins on an interim basis towards the close of the 2011/12 campaign following the dismissal of Robin Dutt. Their association helped Leverkusen to a fifth-placed finish and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. The pair were subsequently given three-year contracts, exactly 12 months ago, and have since steered the Lions to third in the Bundesliga, ensuring entry to next term's UEFA Champions League group stage.

With the 39-year-old Hyypiä – who retired from playing in 2011 – set to complete his coaching qualifications in the summer, the former Liverpool FC defender will take the helm on his own. Lewandowski will become head of youth coaching. "I am glad I was able to help over the past 14 months," he said. "We now have a team with lots of room for further development and which plays successful and good football. It is not an easy step for me, because I have had to give up a good team and the interesting challenge that is the Champions League."