Liverpool FC Forum

by **anfieldadorer** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 1:08 pm

July, 16. 12.59

Markus Babbel is poised to return to his native Germany with Stuttgart, the premier league club said on their website on Friday. The experienced defender had one year remaining on his deal with the Merseyside outfit, but is now free to pursue his career away from the Premiership club.

He was sent on loan to Blackburn last season, but the Reds' new boss Rafa Benitez is also keen on seeing the back of Babbel, who is on £35,000-per-week at Anfield. Babbel is undergoing a medical with Stuttgart and the transfer should be completed later on Friday. It is being reported that Liverpool are set to pay up his contract, and let the defender move home on a free. The Anfield club says terms have been agreed for the ex-Bayern Munich player to leave the club. Kaiserslautern are reportedly keen on the stopper, who earned 51 caps for his county, however Stuttgart are favourites for Babbel who is undertaking a medical at the club on Friday.

The former Bayern Munich man is hoping talks with the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium outfit result in him making his long-awaited return to Die Bundesliga.

"It would be a massive boost if things work out with VFB. Stuttgart have a great team and have a promising future," said Babbel.

Stuttgart coach Matthias Sammer has already signed two defenders in Martin Stranzl and Matthieu Delpierre, but is keen to find a replacement for Brazilian Marcelo Bordon.

"We are in negotiations, but haven't reached full agreement yet. Nothing is perfect at the moment," said Stuttgart director Jochen Schneider.

"Brazilians Andre Luis from FC Santos and Edu Dracena from Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte are an alternative as we have scouted both of them for quite some time now."

Babbel had wanted to stay and fight for a place at Anfield, under new boss Rafa Benitez, but it has become clear he is surplus to requirements. The former german international was a big fans favourite in his time with the club, and played a massive part in the treble winning season. His Liverpool career was sadly interupted and ultimately cut short however, by Guillam Barre syndrome, which at one point threatened Markus's life. He made a full recovery however, and got himself back to full fitness, but found the going hard, to get back into the Liverpool first team. Liverpool have revealed that their German international Markus Babbel is today set to return to his homeland with Stuttgart.

Our best wishes and thanks go to him and his family!

by **taff** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 2:03 pm

Good luck then Babbel
Pleasure seeing you in red and Ill never forget the welcome he had warming up in the charity shield against Arsenal

by **Voices from Yates** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:06 pm

Markus, Sie sind rot

by **madred** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:32 pm

Thanks for the goals against the blue ****** and Alaves too Marcus!

by **JBG** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:35 pm

He will always be fondly remembered.

If only he didn't get ill......imagine what he could have achieved. :suspect:

by **Bruno Zidane!** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 6:31 pm

Markus Babbel has revealed that Liverpool Football Club will always hold a special place in his heart.
Babbel is expected to officially end his four-year association with the Reds by completing a permanent move to Bundesliga club Vfb Stuttgart this weekend.

Terms have been agreed between the two club's and the player will undergo a medical in Germany before the deal is finalised.

After a season on loan at Blackburn in 2003/04 his departure will come as no great surprise. But while he's excited at the prospect of reviving his career back in his homeland the German defender admits he's also sad to be leaving Liverpool.

Speaking exclusively to Liverpoolfc.tv at Melwood on the day he said his goodbyes, Babbel told us: "I'll be going back to Germany and that's what I always said I'd do when I left Liverpool. I didn't want to play for another English club because Liverpool is so special and going anywhere else would not be the same.

"For this reason I feel it's best for me to go back to my own country and play for a good club like Stuttgart, where I hope to win more trophies. For me it is a new challenge and I'll be giving it my best shot.

"I have had a good time here at Liverpool, it's been fantastic. I've enjoyed it so much and won six trophies along the way.

Nice to see someone leave the club without an ounce of bitterness, Take a long hard look at this Heskey

Thanks for the memories Babbel and thanks for the treble..... you was pure class!

by **115-1073096938** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 11:34 pm

Good luck lad an cheers.

To be honest his illness didn't help Houllier's situation. Cracking player and losing him sent us back a year at least imo. Its hard to replace a player of his class.

by **adayinthelife** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 12:00 am

stu_the_red wrote:Good luck lad an cheers.

To be honest his illness didn't help Houllier's situation. Cracking player and losing him sent us back a year at least imo. Its hard to replace a player of his class.

Ha ha,yet again another excuse from stu as to why houllier failed. :laugh:

by **LFC #1** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 12:18 am

b4 Babbel's unfortunate illness he was outstanding for us, it is too bad he could never recapture this form, but it was tough on him being out for so long.

good luck to him, hope he does well back home in Germany.

by **LeRouge** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 12:39 am

great player great fella we need more like him

by **charwell** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 12:50 am

He was an excellent player and we have still not replaced him. I hope he knows how much we appreciate what he did for us and how fondly we remember him. Good luck Babbel

by **azriahmad** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 1:21 am

Good luck to him and all the best from me.

Thanks for the good times and the effort he put when wearing the red jersey. At least showed pride and commitment, unlike soem other players Le Toad purchased!

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