He didn't try it the following year, but he was scouted for the Amsterdam regional team, where the best players in his age group played. Ajax noticed him during his time at the regional team, so he did end up at Ajax a year later. In the 98/99 season he started in the D1 (age group 12-14) and he never left.
His first professional contract was signed in January 2004, and with it his debut at home against Ado den Haag on the 1st of February 2004, at the age of 17. His first goal came in an away game at De Graafschap, where he came on as a substitute.
He represented the Holland youth teams under 14, 16, 17, 19 and the under 20's. He also won the European Championship with the under 21's, scoring in a 4-1 win over Serbia in 2007. He was later voted man of the match.
He played 73 games for Ajax, scoring 14 times, he featured in the Dutch national team 26 times, scoring on five occasions. In 2008 he was ruled out of the European Championship with an ankle injury, only to feature for Holland in a disappointing Olympic Games tournament.
His biggest passion is rap music and featured on a couple songs and albums of dutch rappers. His nicknames are ''Rio'', ''the Gun'' and ''the Timebomb''.
Ryan's Liverpool days
On July 12th 2007 Ajax announced they had sold Ryan Babel to Liverpool FC. Liverpool paid 17 million euros for his services, and Ryan signed a five year contract. At that time it was a record deal, as Ajax never sold a home grown player for more than 11 million euros (obviously it was before the Wesley Sneijder to Real Madrid deal).
I obviously knew his strengths from his Ajax time, but in his first season he also showed his qualities to the ever loyal Liverpool fans. His body strength and pace reminded everyone of Thierry Henry, raising the expectations from the start. He scored a great debut goal against Derby County, tricking two defenders before coolly slotting home from 15 yards out. His trademark celebration after a goal is pointing his fingers to the sky and thanking God. His most important moment came against Arsenal at home in the Quarter Final of the Champions League, outrunning Cesc Fabregas before ending Arsenal's hopes of progressing, and sending a fully-packed Anfield into eruption (and the semis).
In his second season expectations are higher than ever before, and the signs of improvement are certainly visible. His assist for Dirk Kuyt in the Champions League second leg against Standad Liege (1-0) proved enough to qualify for the group phase. After hitting the winner (2-1) against Manchester Utd, Babel played his part in Liverpool's first win over Manchester Utd in the league since Rafael Benitez's arrival at the club.
Babel's next opportunity to shine came in the first group game at Olympic Marseille. Starting the game he earned Liverpool a penalty after woeful defending from a French defender who misjudged the situation twice. After an excellent performed technical skill he was floored by a defender, earning Liverpool a penalty which after 90 mins proved to be the winning goal. He also got three good chances, the first was truly majestic. Kuyt played the ball into Ryan's path,and with one perfectly executed move he released himself from two defenders, before shooting the ball inches over the crossbar, the second one from point blank range should've gone in, but Marseille keeper Mananda saved it bravely, at the last occasion he hit the woodwork from a difficult angle. What has Babel changed to escape the ever present 2nd season syndrome? First of all he seems to play with a lot more confidence. His display against Manchester Utd was so good, coming on as a sub he immediately raised to the occasion by putting in a brilliant technical display and by scoring a vital goal. In the Marseille game he once again showed what a strong player he is on the ball, when he puts his body between the ball and the defender, it's almost impossible to get the ball.
Ryan Babel is a player, alongside Torres, from who I think can escape the 2nd season syndrome, as long as he can prove himself by getting enough playing time this term. I will go as far as I can by saying he will be a key player for Liverpool for many years to come and he will be very important in our hunt for number 19.
In this season and the next he will have to prove he is no longer a talent, but a player who can play well for 90 minutes and for a number of games in a row. When this happens, we will have one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League. Show your faith in Ryan Babel and the rest of the team and they will repay you with the league title and one of the happiest moments in your life.