The lavish processions of elite football players has been well documented—super cars, state-of the art houses, flickering watches, and their collection of bijouterie.
Like many of his associates, Dutch international Ryan Babel, the former Liverpool star breaks away from those cliché and explores the hinterlands.
He estimates his property to some up to 50 affordable houses in the multi-family market in Amsterdam and Miami by the end of 2020.
For a changes, Babel has taken to Stock market and is advising his fellow mates to step in too.
“I feel like football players are lot smarter than years ago but still this is really out there,” Babel said CNN Sport.
Initially a reluctant investor, Babel bought his first property at 20yrs of age after moving from Ajax to Liverpool in July 2007.
Owning 10 properties, Babel felt unfulfilled, so he pursued day trading at the age of 27 into a year-long course. Inspired from the books of American businessman Robert Kiyosaki, post-qualification, as he couldn’t invest time while playing professional football, so to keep up trading, he brought in partners and ascendancy from banks and turned into a multipreneur.
“I asked myself what job is able to replace a football salary on a monthly basis,” Babel said.” It has to be a successful business. I received a book from a friend by Robert Kiyosaki and when I read that book my way of looking things changed instantly.”
“I read a few more and understood different ways of investing in real estate, doing my due diligence, doing my homework—- what are the ups and downs.”
With these efforts of his we can interpret, Rabel had developed foresight into future and turned into an entrepreneur along with being a football player.
“Life can come at you very hard and quick”
Rabel predicts his possessions to count 100, along with his other investment American musician Ryan Laslie’s Super phone, a custom text management system enabling direct fan interaction.
Rabel likes to share his financial thoughts and guide his fellow mates in the Dutch International team.” I felt obligated to share this information with colleagues, especially how football players manage finances,” Babel said.
“My career is going to be finished one day of course. Maybe one of my purposes now is to teach the younger generational footballers who are getting involved very quickly with big contacts.”
“ Get involved early to get your feet wet outside the comfort zone of football. It’s going to be a tough world once you hang up your boots if you’ve not educated yourself in this society or economy. Life can come at you very hard and quick.”
Unlike, other peers of his, Babel at 33 had foreseen his career and want his autobiography to be created as a music album.
`“You know how footballers always write an autobiography after their career, I came with the idea to do that but in a music for,” said Babel.
