Ryan Babel at Paris Fashion Week
A former Liverpool star now works in the fashion and music industries(Image: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
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Ryan Babel has undergone eye-catching career changes since retiring from football in 2024. The former Liverpool winger has found different outlets for his creativity in the fashion and music industries.
A product of Ajax’s famed academy, Babel joined Rafa Benitez’s side for £11.5million in 2007. A hefty fee for the then-20-year-old, he clocked up 146 appearances and scored 22 goals during his three-and-a-half years at Anfield.
After leaving the Reds, Babel spent time in Germany, Spain, Turkey, England, the United Arab Emirates and also returned to the Netherlands before hanging up his boots, aged 37 in 2024. Having had such a varied career, it would not have been a surprise to see Babel move into coaching; however, the ex-Liverpool star has taken a more unorthodox approach to his retirement.
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“Throughout my career, I’ve been involved in various ventures. For a long time, I’ve been part of the music business,” Babel exclusively told the ECHO on behalf of SeatPick - the leading platform for Liverpool tickets. “I have artists mostly in Los Angeles, one in Amsterdam, and a producer in the UK.
“Music has always been a part of me, I enjoy it. While it may not always be a great business decision in terms of return on investment, it started as a hobby and grew into a business that I loved managing during my spare time.
“Outside of music, I also run an agency in Paris that operates in the fashion industry. We focus primarily on athletes interested in fashion, helping them build relationships with brands, organise fashion weeks, and handle rebranding or social media strategies.
Ryan Babel at Paris Fashion Week
Babel attended Paris Fashion Week earlier this year(Image: Pierre Suu/Getty Images)
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“These are just some of the ventures I’m involved in. Right now, I’m enjoying exploring things I wasn't able to during my playing career.
“As for coaching? Maybe in the future, but mentally I’m not there yet. Since retiring, I’ve occasionally run training sessions for under-16 or under-14 players. It feels nice to help and guide them as they improve. That passion is still there, but I’ll never say never.”
His time at Liverpool came to an end when he was sold to Hoffenheim in January 2011. That transfer window is most remembered for the club’s shock decision to sell Fernando Torres to Chelsea and bring in replacement strikers Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez on deadline day.
Ryan Babel of Liverpool
Babel arrived at Liverpool as a highly-rated Ajax prospect (Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
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Although Babel left Liverpool without winning silverware, he was part of the side that finished Premier League runners-up in 2009. At international level, the winger was also named in the Netherlands squad that reached the 2010 World Cup final.
Babel later rejoined Ajax and had spells with Kasimpasa, UAE outfit Al-Ain and Deportivo La Coruna before rediscovering top form with Besiktas. This prompted a brief return to the Premier League with Fulham in 2019, followed by a move to Galatasaray and a third stint with Ajax.
He ended his playing days in the Turkish second tier with Eyupspor in 2023, officially retiring more than a year later. However, few may have predicted that Babel would then focus his energy on making waves in the music and fashion scenes.
Ryan Babel was speaking exclusively to the Echo thanks to SeatPick - the leading platform forLiverpool tickets.
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