As his Anfield career draws to a close, Markus Babbel has revealed that Liverpool Football Club will always hold a special place in his heart.

Babbel is expected to officially end his four-year association with the Reds by completing a permanent move to Bundesliga club Vfb Stuttgart this weekend.

Terms have been agreed between the two club's and the player will undergo a medical in Germany before the deal is finalised.

After a season on loan at Blackburn in 2003/04 his departure will come as no great surprise. But while he's excited at the prospect of reviving his career back in his homeland the German defender admits he's also sad to be leaving Liverpool.

Speaking exclusively to Liverpoolfc.tv at Melwood on the day he said his goodbyes, Babbel told us: "I'll be going back to Germany and that's what I always said I'd do when I left Liverpool. I didn't want to play for another English club because Liverpool is so special and going anywhere else would not be the same.

"For this reason I feel it's best for me to go back to my own country and play for a good club like Stuttgart, where I hope to win more trophies. For me it is a new challenge and I'll be giving it my best shot.

"I have had a good time here at Liverpool, it's been fantastic. I've enjoyed it so much and won six trophies along the way.

"I'll also never forget the reaction of the supporters after my illness, they were absolutely brilliant towards me. In my eyes, this club will always be really special. It's different class. Even last season when I returned to Anfield during my loan spell with Blackburn the whole of the Kop were singing my name and that's something I'll never forget."

Bavarian-born Babbel was signed by Gerard Houllier from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2000 and played a key role in the club's unprecedented treble cup success the following year.

A glorious Anfield career beckoned until he was tragically struck down by the debilitating Guillain-Barré syndrome.

After over a year out he courageously fought his way back into Liverpool's first team plans but never quite rediscovered the excellent form of his first campaign in a red shirt and spent all of last season out on loan to Blackburn.

The writing was clearly on the wall, with regards his Anfield career, and although he reported back to Melwood for pre-season training on Monday it was only ever going to be a temporary return.

"Even though I returned to Melwood for the start of pre-season training earlier this week there was never much chance of me staying here," Babbel adds.

"I spoke to the manager and he said if the club got an offer for me they'd be prepared to let me go. That proved to me that I wasn't really in his plans but that's fair enough. Football is like that. The boss is new here, he has his own visions for the future and opinions on the team he wants. I appreciate the fact that he came to me and explained the situation.

"He also said I could stay if I wanted to but he couldn't guarantee that I would be playing in the first team. Again that's fair enough. I don't enjoy sitting on the bench or in the stands, so it's best for everyone that I move on."

It's clear that despite what went on during the latter part of his Anfield career, Babbel maintains a great affection for the Reds and he goes back to Germany with some precious memories of his time here.

He recalls: "The first season was unbelievable. Out of the 63 games we played I was involved in 60 of them and we won three trophies. The FA Cup final against Arsenal was particularly special and the UEFA Cup against Alaves, which we won 5-4, was an amazing game.

"Then there was the Charity Shield game against Arsenal, after my illness. I came on for the last ten minutes and the whole stadium stood up to sing my name and applaud me. It was a fantastic reception and it meant so much to me. I also like Liverpool as city very much. The people are so friendly. Everything about my time here was so fantastic.

"Of course, I'd like to wish the club the best of luck for the future and when I say that I mean everyone - the manager, the team and the fans. I know how much they want to win the league and I hope they do. As a club Liverpool deserve to win the title and I think they have a very good opportunity, although it's not going to be easy. They'll have to work hard and I just hope the manager gets that bit of luck that's needed.

"In one respect it is a sad to be leaving Liverpool but I am a positive person and I'm looking forward to a new start. I've met so many nice people here, and it will be hard to say goodbye but I'll definitely be back to support the team once my career is finished. I have a good relationship with the people at Liverpool and it's good to know that I'd be welcomed back

"For the time being though I'll be keeping a close eye on how the lads are doing and sometime in the future Stuttgart may play Liverpool, I would like that very much. Hopefully, it will not be this season though, because that would mean Liverpool dropping out of the Champions League and into the UEFA Cup."