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Former Liverpool star opens up on totally wrong actions with manager and Real Madrid snub

Markus Babbel, Head Coach, of the Wanderers is seen during the Round 5 A-League match between Western United and the Western Sydney Wanderers at GMHBA Stadium
-Credit: (Image: Martin Keep/Getty Images)


Markus Babbel chose Liverpool over Real Madrid in 2000, despite the latter's freshly-earned European title. And he's

And opening up, Babbel reflected on his remarkable transfer saga with a laugh, recalling how he rejected a tantalising offer from Real Madrid as they were never his club. A staunch Barcelona fan, Babbel always knew where his loyalties layif he was to move to Spain, Barca would be the destination.

"Yeah, yeah, Real Madrid wanted me," Babbel revealed, chuckling at the memory during an exclusive chat with the ECHO, on behalf of NewBettingSites.uk. "And it was a funny story because there was an agent there. He said, 'Listen, tomorrow I will bring you $1 million if you're not going somewhere else, if you sign for Real Madrid. And I said, 'Oh, thank you very much, but Real Madrid is not my club.'

"If I go to Spain, then the only team I would sign for is Barcelona, because I am a massive Barcelona supporter and Real Madrid wasn't ever my club and my team. They have the best players, but this is not my club. And, the funny thing is, I was on the way to Liverpool to sign the new contract. 6:00 in the morning and on the radio, the news came, 'Spectacular, Markus Babbel is signing for Real Madrid!'

"And I was on the way to Manchester, and driving over to Liverpool to sign the contract. That was a bit funny, yeah! ".

The right-back played every game during that historic treble-winning season in 2000/01, contributing goals and assists including memorable moments against fierce rivals Everton and in pivotal cup final matches. After starting in Liverpool's Charity Shield and European Super Cup triumphs over Manchester United and Bayern Munich in August, completing an unprecedented quintuple of trophies within a calendar year, Markus Babbel's career took a tragic turn.

Struggling for breath and substituted at half-time in Premier League games against West Ham and Bolton, he was diagnosed with the severe Guillain-Barre syndrome, leaving him wheelchair-bound.

Markus Babbel in action for Liverpool
Markus Babbel in action for Liverpool -Credit:Getty Images

Babbel fought back to play again in August 2002 but clashed with manager Gerard Houllier as he battled to regain his form. His last match for Liverpool, a 4-3 victory over Aston Villa in December 2002, saw him subbed off before the break and controversially remove his shirt in protest.

His time at Anfield soured further after two red cards while playing for the reserves, including a headbutt in a mini Merseyside derby, resulting in a fine of two weeks' wages. Houllier later declared Babbel's Liverpool career over, stating: "I doubt he will play for us again because I gave him many chances and it hasn't worked out," and "It doesn't look as though his attitude is the best at the moment.

"He is frustrated and he has been sent off twice for the reserves recently. The staff have been disappointed with Markus's attitude towards the club and the fans. It is not only the outburst during the Worthington Cup, but he has been sent off twice in the reserves. I took no action after the first incident but I will fine him two weeks' wages for the incident last week, which was unacceptable. He is no longer in my plans."

"When you have talent there is no question you are capable of doing well for your club, but the motivation has to be there too. The attitude has to be right and in this case it has not been right. I think the club has been very fair to Markus. We stood by him and handed him a new contract. I'm very disappointed with him."

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Babbel would go on to spend the 2003/04 season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, before joining VfB Stuttgart on a free transfer in the summer of 2004. Reflecting on his time at Liverpool, the German admits he has regrets about how things ended, attributing his change in behaviour to personal issues following his recovery from illness.

"Yeah (I have regrets) but this is part of my life now," he confessed. "You know, of course, I was a bit sad because after this fantastic first season. I always say, okay, this illness happened, you know, I can't change it anymore. And it was a bad period.

"The only thing that I sometimes think, if this illness would come, a year later, you know, that I could play a second year for Liverpool. But it's happened, you know, and to be fair, after this illness, I wasn't the same person as before."

Markus Babbel and Gerard Houllier fell out at Liverpool
Markus Babbel and Gerard Houllier fell out at Liverpool -Credit:Getty Images

Babbel also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to reconcile with former manager Gerard Houllier at the 'Celebration of the 96' Hillsborough 25th anniversary charity match at Anfield in 2014. "Afterwards, the good thing for me was, the 25th Hillsborough anniversary, there was a game in Liverpool at Anfield.

This event allowed him to make peace before Houllier's passing in December 2020. "I went to him," he said. "I said, 'Boss, I understand everything what you did. You were absolutely right. I was totally wrong. Sorry about this, but my head was lost. I was lost.'".

"And so we had a good, good chat in this moment. And also with Phil Thomson because he said also many good things to me but I wasn't listening. But it is part of my life, you know. Of course I wish I could play a season, two seasons more for Liverpool. But, after this illness, I wasn't the same person anymore."