---
title: "Markus Babbel pays tribute to former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/markus-babbel-pays-tribute-to-former-liverpool-manager-gerard-houllier/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2020-12-17T20:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-12-17T20:00:00Z"
---

# Markus Babbel pays tribute to former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier

Former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel has paid a lovely tribute to Gerard Houllier, following the Frenchman’s death on Sunday.

Houllier passed away at the age of 73 over the weekend, with those of a Reds persuasion, and beyond, sending [endless messages](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2020/12/14/jamie-carragher-pays-tribute-to-former-liverpool-manager-gerard-houllier/) this week.

The ex-Liverpool boss famously won a cup treble back in 2000/01, as well as taking the Reds into the Champions League for the first time that season, and winning the League Cup in 2003.

Someone who was a key man under Houllier was Babbel, and in an interview with [https://www.sport1.de/](https://www.sport1.de/)*[Sport 1](https://www.sport1.de/)* \[via [https://sportwitness.co.uk/liverpool-gerard-houllier-markus-babbel-tribute/](https://sportwitness.co.uk/liverpool-gerard-houllier-markus-babbel-tribute/)*[Sport Witness](https://sportwitness.co.uk/liverpool-gerard-houllier-markus-babbel-tribute/)*\], he spoke beautifully about his former manager:

> (It was) a dream came true for me at the Reds.

> And the conversations with Gerard were one of the reasons why I did it too. He made me feel that he really wanted me.

> He built something big in Liverpool. Without him, Liverpool would not be the club it is today if Gerard hadn’t pushed it back then.

> I am very grateful to him for bringing me back then.

### Read Liverpool Verdict

It is the latest in a long list of touching tributes to Houllier, who was clearly such a popular figure at Liverpool.

Not only was he a top manager, but he was also a friend to his players, getting the best out of them.

Babbel has become a forgotten man in some ways, but he was bordering on world-class at right-back during 2000/01, making a staggering [60 appearances](https://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/GamesPerSeason/259-42) in all competitions.