FORMER Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has announced his retirement from football.
Skrtel, 37 – who has recently been playing in his homeland Slovakia for Spartak Trnava -cited health reasons for his retirement in an emotional press conference.
Liverpool’s Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel (right) celebrate with the Carling Cup TrophyCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Martin Skrtel playing for Istanbul Basaksehir in 2020Credit: Getty
Via Sport SK, the 104 time Slovakian international said: “By coming to Trnava, I fulfilled my dream.
“I think that even at this age I still have something to offer the team and I could play at the top level.
“But then there is a medical condition. I have problems with plaques, they limit me not only in football, but also in my personal life.
“I don’t remember a day I spent without pain.”
Skrtel moved to Spartak Trnava in 2021 after being released by Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir who he was with for two years.
The combative centre-half was part of two Premier League title challenging Liverpool sides under Rafael Benitez and Brendan Rodgers in 2008/09 and 2013/14 respectively.
After appearing more than 300 times for Liverpool, he left The Reds in 2016 to join Fenerbache.
He briefly joined Italian side Atalanta in 2019 before switching Italy for Turkey once again and linking up with Basaksehir.
Skrtel elaborated on the pain he has been experiencing, saying: “I have been training and wrestling in recent months under pills and injections.
“I had a problem walking with my son a hundred meters and I wouldn’t be able to handle this press on the stands, the pain is pretty bad.
“The worst are running, jumping and impacts. This is something we need in football.
“Therefore, I had to decide that the match with Dunajská would be the last.”
While he admitted he couldn’t imagine life without football, he conceded that had to follow his mind and not his heart in order to preserve his health.
Skrtel hopes to avoid having surgery to solve his health issues.
Spartak Trnava President Peter Macho has also said the club expect Skrtel to remain within the club behind the scenes.
