Phil Babb
Encyclopedia
Philip 'Phil' Andrew Babb (born 30 November 1970) is an English-born Irish former footballer who played as a central defender.
Active in England and Portugal, he made over 300 professional career appearances, namely spending six Premier League seasons with Liverpool
. He represented Republic of Ireland
at the 1994 World Cup
.
, London, Babb came through the youth ranks of Newcastle United
and Millwall
, before beginning his senior career in 1990 with Bradford City
. He moved to Coventry City
in July 1992 for a fee of £
500,000, where he spent two seasons before moving to Liverpool
on 1 September 1994 for £3.6million, which made him the most expensive defender in Britain at the time.
Babb only scored once during six Premier League years at Liverpool, ironically against former club Coventry, in September 1996. After a brief loan spell at Tranmere Rovers
, he moved to Portugal
with Sporting Clube de Portugal on a free transfer in 2000, appearing in 38 official games in his second season - one goal against FC Midtjylland
in the UEFA Cup (3–0 away win, 6–2 on aggregate)- as the Lions conquered both the league and the domestic cup
.
He ended his career at the age of 33 with Sunderland
(also two years), suffering top level relegation in 2003, and helping the Black Cats reach the semifinals of the following year's FA Cup
.
internationally, Babb earned 35 full caps
, including four matches at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
. In August 2000, he and Ireland teammate Mark Kennedy were sent home from a traning camp "after appearing in court charged with drunken and abusive behaviour and causing criminal damage."
Babb's final game for Ireland was an UEFA Euro 2004 qualifier against Russia
played in Moscow
, on 7 September 2002: having come into the game in the 85th-minute, his first touch of the ball was diverted behind Irish goalkeeper Shay Given
for an own goal
. The Republic of Ireland lost the away game 2–4, with all three of manager Mick McCarthy
's substitutes (Gary Doherty
, Clinton Morrison
and Babb) "scoring".
magazine, alongside former Sunderland teammates Michael Gray, Jason McAteer
, Thomas Sorensen and Stephen Wright, saving the publication from closure. He also worked as a pundit for Sky Sports
.
Active in England and Portugal, he made over 300 professional career appearances, namely spending six Premier League seasons with Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. He represented Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
at the 1994 World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
.
Club career
Born in LambethLambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
, London, Babb came through the youth ranks of Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
and Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, before beginning his senior career in 1990 with Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
. He moved to Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in July 1992 for a fee of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
500,000, where he spent two seasons before moving to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
on 1 September 1994 for £3.6million, which made him the most expensive defender in Britain at the time.
Babb only scored once during six Premier League years at Liverpool, ironically against former club Coventry, in September 1996. After a brief loan spell at Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
, he moved to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
with Sporting Clube de Portugal on a free transfer in 2000, appearing in 38 official games in his second season - one goal against FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland is a professional Danish football team from Herning and Ikast. The team is a result of a merger between Ikast FS and Herning Fremad...
in the UEFA Cup (3–0 away win, 6–2 on aggregate)- as the Lions conquered both the league and the domestic cup
Taça de Portugal
The Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
.
He ended his career at the age of 33 with Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
(also two years), suffering top level relegation in 2003, and helping the Black Cats reach the semifinals of the following year's FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
.
International career
Having chosen to represent the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
internationally, Babb earned 35 full caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
, including four matches at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
. In August 2000, he and Ireland teammate Mark Kennedy were sent home from a traning camp "after appearing in court charged with drunken and abusive behaviour and causing criminal damage."
Babb's final game for Ireland was an UEFA Euro 2004 qualifier against Russia
Russia national football team
The Russia national football team represents Russia in association football and is controlled by the Russian Football Union , the governing body for football in Russia. Russia's home grounds are Luzhniki Stadium, Lokomotiv Stadium , and Petrovsky Stadium in St.Petersburg and their head coach is...
played in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, on 7 September 2002: having come into the game in the 85th-minute, his first touch of the ball was diverted behind Irish goalkeeper Shay Given
Shay Given
Séamus John James "Shay" Given is an Irish footballer who plays for Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national team as a goalkeeper. He won the PFA's Player of the Year in 2002....
for an own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
. The Republic of Ireland lost the away game 2–4, with all three of manager Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
's substitutes (Gary Doherty
Gary Doherty
Gary Michael Thomas Doherty is an Irish footballer who plays for Charlton Athletic. He plays as defender.Doherty played international football for the Republic of Ireland but has not been in the squad under manager Giovanni Trapattoni...
, Clinton Morrison
Clinton Morrison
Clinton Hubert Morrison is an English-born professional footballer who plays for Milton Keynes Dons, on loan from Sheffield Wednesday...
and Babb) "scoring".
After football
In 2006, Babb became an investor in Golf PunkGolf punk
GolfPunk magazine was launched by Tim Southwell and John Dean through their Keep Yourself Nice Ltd company in 2004, after securing investment from , and then Genesis Investments .Steve Read was signed from the Conde Naste Magazine Group as...
magazine, alongside former Sunderland teammates Michael Gray, Jason McAteer
Jason McAteer
Jason Wynne McAteer is a retired Irish footballer, who represented the Republic of Ireland at international level. He announced his retirement from professional football on 12 June 2007,...
, Thomas Sorensen and Stephen Wright, saving the publication from closure. He also worked as a pundit for Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
.