Martin Skrtel - Took no prisoners

Skrtel is quite friendly off the field - Photo by Arnie Copyright LFChistory.net

Only 59 players have played more often than Martin Skrtel for Liverpool. The Slovakian made 320 appearances in his eight-and-a-half-year career at the club. Kevin Keegan is straight above him with 323 games while Trent Alexander-Arnold is closing in with 310 and Andy Robertson with 297. Skrtel had five different managers during his spell at the club and he surprised many in his homeland by having such a successful and long career at the very top in England. Skrtel is rightfully proud of his footballing journey that took him from his humble beginnings in Slovakia to Russia at only twenty years of age and then Liverpool and Turkey before a back injury finished his career in Slovakia. Martin still suffers pain in his back that affects his daily life. LFChistory.net met with the Slovakian powerhouse to shed some light on the man behind the tough-tackling defender.

There were already talented footballers in the Skrtel family like his nephew Roman, who was a professional with Slovan Bratislava. Dusan, Martin’s father, played football at a low-level, but got injured and had to finish his career early. He went to university and became a lawyer. Martin credits his father as having a big influence on his football career.

My father loved football and was my first coach when I started to play at six years old. Thanks to him I became a very good football player. He watched my games when I started to play professionally in Slovakia, Russia and England. We discussed after the games if I played well or not as well as I wanted. He was always the first person to give me advice. He understood football so I could ask him his opinion.

You moved to Russia at only 20 years of age.

It was a big change, not only in football, but also in my personal life. I came from Slovakia, from a country which is five million people. The village where I lived with my parents had like 1,000 people (Ráztočno) and then I moved to St. Petersburg that is five million people in one city. It was a massive step for me. It not only helped me in football but also in my personal life off the pitch because I moved to Russia by myself and had to look after myself. I had to organize my life and that was a big school for me. 

I used to play in Slovakia and the quality in the Russian league was much higher. The middle step for me between the Slovakian league and the English Premier League was the Russian Premier League. It was a good choice and I never regretted moving to Russia. It helped my upcoming career when I moved to Liverpool because I had got used to a higher level of football. 

It was a successful period for the Russian club as Zenit won the Russian Championship for the first time in 20 years, 1984.

It was big for the club because the strongest teams in history were always from Moscow: Spartak, CSKA, Dynamo or Lokomotiv. Zenit was a big team from outside Moscow and there was a big rivalry, especially with Spartak. When I moved to Zenit the club was starting to get stronger because it was a new era with a big investment from Gazprom who brought Dick Advocaat as a manager and some players. We won the league and one month later I moved to Liverpool. The season after Zenit won the UEFA Cup and the Super Cup.

Had you been aware of Liverpool’s interest for a while before moving to England?

I know scouts were coming to the games, but I didn’t know about the Liverpool scouts. I wanted to move somewhere and had to perform well to get attention from other clubs. As a kid I dreamt about playing in the English Premier League. Zenit had played Everton in the UEFA Cup at Goodison. We lost 1-0 but I was quite good in that game. I met David Moyes and my agent told me that Everton had got in touch with him and tried to make a move. Two or three weeks later when my agent contacted me and told me we were maybe travelling to the UK, I was still thinking it was going to be Everton but he told me it was the other team from Liverpool, thanks god. No disrespect to Everton but Liverpool were a much bigger club, still is and will be forever. 

'Wait, let me get my game face on,' Skrtel said before his smile evaporated - Photo by Arnie Copyright LFChistory.net

Skrtel came in the middle of the 2007/08 season when Liverpool were struggling with injuries in the centre-half position with Agger out injured. The first four months were a struggle for Skrtel off the pitch as he was all alone in a hotel in a strange city and didn’t speak a single word of the language. However, he had English lessons three times a week to be able to communicate and get accustomed to his new surroundings. There was a lot of expectation for the most expensive defender in Liverpool's history.

The beginning wasn’t the best and I felt the pressure. I came to Liverpool as an unknown player from the Russian league. The players didn’t know who was coming to the team and only knew that the club had paid big money for me. There was expectation from the city, the fans, the team and the coaches. I had my debut against Aston Villa but I only played like twenty minutes, but my first start was in the FA Cup was against Havant & Waterlooville. I managed to score an own goal which can happen in football. I was lucky that Rafa was there because he brought me into the club and always tried to give me some confidence. He supported me and tried to show me what I did wrong so I could progress as soon as possible. 

On the pitch, Skrtel was a success and played in 18 of the remaining 23 first-team matches of the season and won over the supporters with his battling qualities. His tough tackling and your never-say-die attitude were admired by the fans.

When you talk about my style of play… Every single player has to find something that he knows and is the best in his game. I know about my aggression, my strong tackles and headers. The main task for the centre-back is to stop the strikers scoring goals so I tried everything possible to do it. Sometimes you had to play softer, sometimes you had to play harder. I loved the way I was playing. I really enjoyed when I made a good slide tackle at Anfield. The fans cheered you on and were shouting and screaming. I really loved it.

I see myself as an old-school defender. In the period I was playing, football was a little bit different than it is in the moment. I was just trying to play simple. If I had the chance to pass the ball to the player close to me, I just did it. My job was to get the ball and win the tackle and then pass it to someone else. Maybe my weakness was not to play more with the ball as much as I could and be more creative. Maybe I would be a different player in this era, but that was the period. 

Martin and his son Mateo - Image from Martin's Instagram account

The fans were impressed and even applied quotes formerly only reserved for Chuck Norris to describe him. Martin is very aware of those quotes but shied away from repeating them. The best of include:
“Martin Skrtel does not sleep. He waits.”
“Martin Skrtel is the leading cause of death in Eastern European centre forwards.”
“Sun Tzu once wrote, ‘If your enemy is weaker, conquer him. If he is stronger, join him. If he is Martin Skrtel, you're fu***** dead.’”
“Martin Skrtel played Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun and won.”
“The Black Eyed Peas were just The Peas until Martin Skrtel heard their music.”
“Martin Skrtel can touch MC Hammer.”
“There is no 'ctrl' button on Skrtel's keyboard. Skrtel is always in control.”
“Before he goes to sleep, the bogeyman checks the cupboards for Martin Skrtel.”
"There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of animals Martin Skrtel allows to live." 
"Martin Skrtel has never blinked in his entire life. Never." 
“If you can see Martin Skrtel, he can see you. If you can't see Martin Skrtel, you may be only seconds away from death.”
“Martin Skrtel has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life there.”
Martin Skrtel doesn't tackle forwards. He stares them down until they give the ball to him.”

Peter Crouch was certainly aware of Martin’s strengths as he recounted. England faced Slovakia on 28 March 2009 and Crouchy felt Martin’s wrath. "Skrtel is playing for Slovakia and I'm playing for England and he’s my teammate. He used to jump off my thigh, he would literally put his studs on your thigh and jump off and get more leverage, win the header. When I came off after the game I had stud marks all over my thigh.”

Martin recollects the game in question and offers no apologies.

At that time we were 3-0 down. As a Liverpool player I was coming to the UK, playing against the England national team and you obviously you want to show yourself. The quality in their team was much bigger and I think the game ended 4-0. There was a little bit of frustration, so when I jumped for the header, I just kept my foot a little bit in front of me… I can’t say I kicked him but he must have felt my studs on his back but the referee couldn’t see that. It obviously wasn’t fair so I apologised but Crouchy knew that something like this could happen, and he was quite ok with it.   

In 2010, there had been a big change at the club. Roy Hodgson replaced Rafa as manager and Fenway Sports Group took over from Gillett and Hicks.

Rafa brought me into the club and a new manager would come in with new ideas. He was going to bring in new players and I didn’t know what would happen with myself. Roy tried to explain his ideas to me and told me that he wanted me to stay and that I would be playing for him. I would have an important role in his team which was great for me. It wasn’t the best period for the club, and it just didn’t work for Roy. We didn’t have the results and the way of play wasn’t like how we or the fans wanted us to play. Roy had to go and they brought in Kenny.

Skrtel played in nearly 90% of Liverpool's first team matches in 2011/12 in Kenny Dalglish’s only full season on his return to management at the club. Skrtel was voted the Standard Chartered Liverpool FC Player of the Season on Liverpool's website. Skrtel tallied an incredible 44 per cent of the 66,937 votes cast. Luis Suarez was the runner-up with 33 per cent.

It was very special for me because very rarely a defender wins this individual trophy. Mostly it goes to the strikers for scoring the goals or the midfielders but in that season; I was playing regularly, Luis had some troubles and was suspended, and Stevie was quite often injured. The fans voted for me which was not only great for myself but also my family. When you are in such a big club as Liverpool with so many great players it’s always special to get this kind of trophy. I still have this trophy in my office, and it will be there forever. 

That year and that season was unforgettable. My son was born in 2011 during that season that helped me a lot also even though I couldn’t sleep because he wouldn’t let us. When I had a bad game before we had a kid, I was always thinking about the football even when I was home. It completely changed when our son was born. I went to the games and training. When I came home and saw his face, I completely forgot about football so that helped me relax. I went to the next game with a clear head and new energy. That year was the best one, not only in football but in my private life.

Skrtel won his only trophy at Liverpool in 2012 when Liverpool defeated Cardiff in the League Cup final in which he scored the equaliser. That was one of 18 goals Skrtel scored for Liverpool. His debut goal came against Manchester City at Anfield.

Defenders do not score very often so when I did, I tried to enjoy it. Many times, I didn’t know what to do. Strikers get used to scoring goals and think about what to do when they score. After the first goal I was running towards the stand and made a slide on my knees but it was too close to the board and I almost hit the board. But that’s emotion. 

Skrtel was no stranger to scoring a few own goals as well, most of them from a deflection rather than a silly mistake. Richard Dunne holds the record for most own goals with ten, Skrtel scored eight for Liverpool, a club record he shares with Jamie Carragher. Mind you, even the Milan and Italy great, Franco Baresi, scored eight own goals for his club.

Any defender has to be ready for something like this. Richard Dunne from Manchester City. Thanks god. I would be angry if the own goals were some stupid ones but a defender tries to put his body to the shots, make blocks, interceptions and the ball can go into your own net. What can you do about them? Some of the own goals I don’t understand the rules. Small deflection and they give it as an own goal. Own goals is a part of your life as a defender.

The percentage of first-team matches the Slovakian appeared in dropped from nearly ninety to just over sixty in 2012/13. Skrtel lost his place in the starting line-up in the second part of the season. He could be a bit rash in his challenges and he was aware of the criticism.

When I was younger, I paid attention to what people were saying about me, my game or my team. When I got older with more experience, I tried just to focus on myself. I’m not going to lie. I sometimes read what people are saying about you, but I wasn’t thinking about it. Those who understand football know that you can’t have a good game each time. In football you have good days and bad days. I knew when I played well and didn’t play well. For me it was important what my teammates and the manager and the club were thinking about me, not some kind of journalist or some kind of fans. Some fans don’t like the way you play, but this is normal, and I accept it. 

Skrtel had reclaimed his spot in the side when Liverpool came close to the league title in 2013/14 under the stewardship of Brendan Rodgers. The 5-1 win over Arsenal in one of the best games seen at Anfield and displayed the Reds’ title credentials. 

Steven Gerrard said about this memorable game: "I’m trying to think of a performance I can remember in the last 15 years. Maybe one or two in the Champions League got close but that was as explosive as it gets. That’s definitely in the top three performances I have been involved in. We have absolutely demolished a top team from start to finish." 

The demolition of Arsenal was one of the most memorable for Skrtel as he had never scored two goals in a match. He scored the first goal of the game after only 50 seconds from Steven Gerrard’s free kick on the left side.

Arsenal came to Anfield, and they had been top of the table and they were confident. After 20 minutes it was 4-0 to us and could have been even more. We had been totally and completely on fire. After ten minutes we had a corner kick. I had already scored a goal, but let’s see. This is the first corner, and it is going to be for me. We had been practicing in training and I knew Stevie would be putting a ball for me somewhere between the first post and the penalty spot, so I tried to head it. If you tell Stevie to put the ball there, he will put it there from ten balls, nine and half, maybe ten. I managed to score the second one, so I was thinking to myself, ten minutes and I have scored two goals. There is still 80 minutes to play. I started to think that maybe I could score a hat-trick. Even if we’d had a penalty, I wouldn’t be asking Stevie to let me take it. It wasn’t my style.

The 2013/14 team deserved to win the title.

Many times, I still think about what happened. We had a feeling that this was the year to win it, especially in the period after Christmas. We were winning every single game. The atmosphere in the team was great. You could feel the connection between the fans and the team. Even before the games when we were travelling to Anfield with the people lined up in the streets showing their love and support. I still think we should have won and it still hurts thinking about it as a League trophy with Liverpool would have been something special. Every single player from that season dreamt about it, but then shit happened and that’s football. Sometimes it’s nice and sometimes it’s very bad to you. You have to accept that. You have stuff that happened like with Stevie. It was a very sad moment for the club, and the team and especially him as a captain and as a lad who came from the academy, and he deserved this title most. Still hurts because if we would have won it would have been the biggest achievement in my football career. 

Skrtel was a tough customer on the field, but he is very different off it.

I am a person of two faces, one on the pitch and one off the pitch. Many people are surprised when they meet me off the pitch. I try to be normal, nice, kind and polite. Football is a game and you do your job but off the pitch the game stops and real life starts. On the pitch I’m fully focused and ready to die for the team. I do everything possible to win a game. When I had a fight on the pitch with someone, saying bad words against each other, after the game I shook hands with every single player. Maybe not one because he did something I would never accept. He spat in my face. He disrespected me. It happened in Turkey. With others, I even shook hands with Diego Costa after fighting with him for 90 minutes. When you play in the Premier League for eight years you’re facing the best strikers in the world. Because of my style of play and my body shape, I always preferred the bigger players, rather than the small technical one who always tried to some tricky moves. I enjoyed playing against Diego Costa, Drogba, Adebayor. This kind of players. 

Skrtel’s neighbour in Liverpool, Luis Suarez, had similar characteristics to him.

I lived next to Luis in Liverpool. When you see him on the pitch and you see him off the pitch, you just don’t believe it. He was crazy on the pitch, not just in games, but even in training. Off the pitch he tried always to be with his family, never left the house without his wife or kids. A completely nice guy. 

Who was the centre-half that you felt the most comfortable playing with? 

I got the chance to play with players like Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Lovren, Sakho and Kolo Touré. All of them were great players and great personalities. Many were saying my partnership with Daniel Agger was the best one. I felt the same because our understanding on and off the pitch was great. Daniel was and is still my friend. We are similar age, the difference between us is only three or four days. (Daniel is born 12 December 1984 and Skrtel on 15 December 1984.) We have a similar personality and similar view of life and football.

Photo by Arnie Copyright LFChistory.net

Brendan Rodgers left in 2015 and Jürgen Klopp took over. Klopp seemed to prefer other centre-halves like Kolo Toure and Dejan Lovren and you transferred to Turkey. Even though your association with Klopp was short, did he leave an impression on you?

I wasn’t happy to see the manager leaving as I had been playing for Brendan for three years. Personally, it wasn’t nice to see him go. If the owners decide to sack the manager, you must be professional and just accept it and move on. Jürgen gave people belief that Liverpool could win trophies again. He won the league and the Champions league that Liverpool fans deserved. When Jürgen came to the club it was a big change not only for me but the whole team. Some players adapt quickly, some players adapt slowly, some players did not adapt at all and had to leave. When Jürgen came to the club, I was a starter and played some games but then I got injured and was out for three months. The team had started to perform well. You could see the changes that Jürgen had applied to the team. When I got back from injury it was difficult for me to get back into the team. I wasn’t playing but wasn’t angry at all because I knew I had been out such a long time and other players had played well and deserved to be in the team. 

You cannot discuss Martin Skrtel and not mention his hair! Twitter went crazy when Skrtel, who had grown a full head of hair, was spotted at Melwood after recovering from his injury in 2016.

I have always had hair but before I went to Liverpool I decided to shave it. I don’t know why. I was bored in Russia when I was alone there, so I decided to shave my head. It was comfortable for me. In England you have games on Wednesday and Saturday. You don’t have to take care of your hair in the game and just take a quick shower and that’s it. 

It was also because of my playing style. Maybe I was ugly but maybe a little bit scary. I kept it all the way until I got injured in the season that Jürgen came to the club. I remember when I got injured, I thought I could be out for three months so let’s do some change. I won’t be shaving my head until I get back to the pitch. I let it grow. We used to go to Hope Street hotel before a game. The first time I was in the squad for a game after my injury, I came there with hair and met Jürgen and everybody. Before the team meeting at the hotel, I shaved my head because I was back in the team. I came to the meeting and Jürgen looked at me and said: ‘What is this?’ ‘I’m back in the team so I decided to shave’, I replied. ‘That’s not very clever,’ Klopp said. 

When I moved to Turkey, I was older and my lifestyle changed so I let my hair grow again. I have kept it until now and I don’t think I will change it because if I mention that in front of my wife, she said, ‘don’t do it again because I will divorce you.’  She prefers me with hair. I had hair when we met. We have been together for 18 years. 

Around 770 games in 20 years have taken their toll on Skrtel’s body.

After a game with my last club in Slovakia I couldn’t walk, sit, I couldn’t sleep, or even walk 400 metres. I visited 6-7 specialists for the back. I was hoping they would tell me I could continue but every single one told me that with this kind of back injury it’s not possible to play football at highest level so that’s why had to accept I had to retire. I have to work every day. I have my own physio and my own personal coach who work with me every day to stick my back together. I have three different injuries, some days I feel better, some days I feel worse. I just want to avoid surgery which maybe won’t be possible. With this kind of problem, it’s not enough to fix it in the gym or with physiotherapy. One day I have to do the surgery, but I just try to slow it down as much as possible.

The birth of Martin's and Barbora's son changed his outlook on life and football in general. Image from Martin's Instagram account

You played 320 matches for Liverpool and only 59 players have made more appearances than you out of a total of 800 plus players so that must be satisfying for you.

We will see how many more players can manage to play more games than I did and where I will end up in 20 years but at this moment, I’m proud of it and it’s very special for me. When I signed for Liverpool, there were many people from my country who said I would be gone after six months. I came to Liverpool as an unknown player and it’s not easy to settle down in England because you have to get used to a new style of game and a new way of life. Players with bigger names from bigger clubs came to England and had been gone after one season. I managed to stay there almost nine years and had five different managers. I was starting under every single one. People said I wouldn’t be playing anymore after Rafa was gone. Roy came, I was playing, Brendan I was playing, Kenny I was playing, Jürgen I was playing. This is something I can be proud of because we’re not talking about some average club but one of the biggest clubs in history.

Interview by Arnie Baldursson ([email protected]) Copyright - LFChistory.net