Bavarian right back who likes to push upfield, Babbel made his international debut against Spain in 1995 and appeared in all but one match during Euro 96.
He joined the youth ranks at Bayern Munich as a nine-year-old and spent two years on loan at Hamburg between 1992 and 1994, but returned to Bayern in time to win the 1996 UEFA Cup and 1997 Bundesliga title.
Proud of his Bavarian roots, he once said, "I don't want to go to a foreign club. I was already playing for one in Hamburg."
That, though, was before he agreed to join Liverpool where he should establish himself as a key part of their championship challenge next season.