Former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has announced his intention to retire from football after the end of the season due to injury.
The Slovakian announced on Tuesday afternoon on his Instagram that he would be retiring due to long-term back problems. The centre-back, who currently plays for Spartak Trnava in his homeland, will hang up his boots after this weekend’s final league game of the campaign against Dunajska.
Skrtel said: “After 20 years of my career I was forced to make a decision and that the match with Dunajska will be my last and my career will be over because I have long-term problems with my back and can no longer function like this, so I had to make this decision. I would like to thank all the clubs, coaches, teammates and fans of all the clubs in all countries where I played. Of course to all my acquaintances, friends, and especially my family. Thanks to my wife, son, parents, siblings for standing by me all these years and always supporting me. Thank you.”
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Skrtel, now 37, signed for the Reds in 2008 from Zenit St Petersburg for £6.5m. He went on to play 320 times for Liverpool and scored 18 goals. He is 58th on the list of all-time appearance makers at Anfield. He was part of the League Cup winning side in 2011/12 and even scored in the final against Cardiff City before Sir Kenny Dalglish’s team triumphed on penalties.
That season, Skrtel also won Liverpool Player of the Year and remained at the club until 2016 when he was sold to Fenerbahce for £5m. He has since played for Atalanta, Istanbul Basaksehir, and currently Spartak Trnava, who sit second place in the Slovakian Premier League. He also won 104 caps for Slovakia and played at the 2010 World Cup and captained them at Euro 2016.
