The Slovakian goalkeeper spent eight years at Anfield, from 2008 to 2016. After leaving Merseyside, he played five seasons in the Turkish top flight before ending his career in his native Slovakia this summer.
In September, and to be more precise on the 24th, the former Liverpool goalkeeper will be part of Sir Kenny Dalglish’s team in a meeting with the Manchester United legend. It will be his first return to Anfield since leaving the club in the summer six years ago. He said that there had been a big loss.
– I haven’t had a chance to come back because I’m still an active footballer. I follow the club of course and watch all the games, Skrtel told liverpoolfc.com.
The 37-year-old made 320 appearances in the red shirt, and over the years has been a bulwark for several Liverpool coaches. He thought it would be very special to trudge onto the grass for You’ll Never Walk Alone again.
– When you play in the club for so long, the club, city and team are still in your heart. I miss the club and the place, and now I’m going back. It will always be my second home, he said.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Martin Skrtel played top European football with Istanbul Basaksehir after his Anfield career ended.
Retrained as a striker
After five years in Turkey and a year at Trnava in Slovakia, the Slovak opted to put his football boots on the shelves earlier this summer, but they didn’t last long there. Skrtel is still an active footballer, but now he plays for an amateur team in Slovakia.
Perhaps the funniest thing about the club’s choice is that he has changed his position on the pitch, as now the right-handed centre-back plays on a fake front nine, and he is the second youngest player on the team!
– When I left Slovakia at the age of 19, I promised a good friend that I would return to playing in the city. I’ve been getting calls from him almost every day since I quit, Skrtel said and continued:
– I’ve played two games so far, and it’s good. “There was also a change of position, and I’ve scored three goals in two games,” said the Slovakian.
Boasting Klopp and centre-backs
There is no doubt that the Slovak is still in good shape after the end of his career. One of his other hobbies, of course, is following Liverpool, and he praised the German Reds coach.
FAMOUS: Martin Skrtel was allowed to be part of Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool team before he traveled to Turkey in 2016.
– I knew him when he was at Dortmund, as a coach. He knows how to work with the players and keep them motivated. Everything came together: Klopp, the players, the club and the supporters. That’s why Liverpool are so successful at the moment, believes the 37-year-old.
However, it’s not just Jürgen Klopp who has earned praise for Skrtel. The Slovakian has played at centre-back at the highest level for several years and he has no doubts about the quality Liverpool have in that position at the moment.
– I want to coach Virgil (Van Dijk), Konate, Matip, Joe Gomez and Phillips. This is probably the best width in the world. They are top players, concluded the 37-year-old man.
Martin Skrtel and Liverpool legends will face Manchester United in the Legends of the North second leg on September 24 at Anfield.
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