Ryan Babel

Ryan Guno Babel (born December 19, 1986 in Amsterdam) is a Netherlands professional Football (soccer) player who currently plays for Liverpool F.C.. He is right footed and plays as a striker or a Winger (football). He has been a member of the Netherlands national football team since 2005.

Club career

Ajax

In 1997, Babel attended a youth selection day with AFC Ajax. He made it through the first selection round, but failed to progress any further. However, the next year Ajax did take him on and he played the 1998–99 season for their D1 team. Ajax went on to win the Dutch league title, but Babel didn't feature again that season. Nine months later, on 20 November 2004 Babel scored his first senior goal against De Graafschap in a 5-0 victory.

In July 2005, Babel signed a new contract with Ajax. He started the new season by scoring the winning goal in Ajax's 2-1 defeat of PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Super Cup. Babel scored in both legs of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round against Brøndby IF as Ajax made it to the group stage. 2005–06 was a tougher season for Babel in general though as he managed only 2 league goals. He did however continue to feature for the national team, and scored his second goal against Italy national football team in November. At the end of the season, Babel came on as a second-half substitute in Ajax's 2-1 victory over PSV in the KNVB Cup final.

Babel marked the start of 2006–07 with another Dutch Super Cup winners medal, as Ajax defeated PSV 3-1. Babel was linked with Arsenal F.C. and Newcastle United during the January transfer window of the 2007 in football (soccer) but no move materialised. Amidst the transfer speculation, Babel agreed to a new three-year deal with Ajax on February 2, 2007. In May, Babel got another Dutch Cup winners medal as Ajax successfully defended the title. The match against AZ went to a penalty shoot-out, but Babel was substituted off after 120 minutes.

Liverpool

On July 10, 2007, it was reported that Liverpool F.C] had made a £13.5 million offer to the Amsterdam club. On July 12 it was reported that Liverpool and Ajax agreed a fee in the region of £11.5 million, and later Liverpool confirmed that Babel would sign a 5 year contract on 13 July. He was unveiled on July 13 with Yossi Benayoun. Babel was handed the number 19 shirt. He made his debut on July 17 against Werder Bremen in a friendly. He was due to play in the first round of the Barclays Asia Trophy 2007 but for a delay in the granting of international clearance. This was sorted out in time for the final against Portsmouth.

He made his Premier League debut in the 2007/08 Premiership curtain raiser against Aston Villa F.C. away after coming on off the bench, impressing by going close twice and showing great vision and touch. A week later and he made his Anfield debut, coming off the bench against Chelsea F.C. and producing a world-class cross and a howitzer of a shot that went just wide. Babel plays as a right or left midfielder for Liverpool. Then, on the 1st of September, Babel scored his first goal for Liverpool against Derby County. In front of a proud home crowd, he kept cool enough to sell a well conceived 'dummy' to two defenders, before sending a luckless Derby goalkeeper into one corner and the ball into the other. Liverpool and Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish has said that Babel has the ability to terrorise defenders in the premiership with his pace and trickery with the ball.

International career

Babel took part in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. Babel scored two goals in four games as the Netherlands reached the quarter-finals. There they were defeated by Nigeria, 10-9 in a penalty shoot-out (Babel scored his penalty).

In June 2007, Babel was part of the Netherlands national under-21 football team competing in the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, being held in the Netherlands. In the group stage, Babel scored a penalty against Portugal, helping the Dutch to secure a semi-final spot and thus qualifying for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. His second tournament goal came during his man of the match performance in the final as the Netherlands defeated Serbia national under-21 football team 4-1 to retain their title.

Later that season, Babel made his international debut on March 26, 2005, away against Romanian national football team. He entered the game as a first-half substitute for Arjen Robben and went on to score the second goal in a 2-0 victory. Van Basten has been quoted as saying Babel "has all the potential to become the next Thierry Henry."