Martin Škrtel

On his 26th birthday, he captained Liverpool in the Europa League against Utrecht.

Martin Škrtel (born 15 December 1984) is a Slovak former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

Škrtel started his professional career at local side FC Baník Prievidza and soon won a move to FK AS Trenčín, where he played 44 games and scored 8 goals for them between 2001 and 2004.

Škrtel made his international debut for Slovakia in 2004 and has earned a total of 104 caps, making him the third most capped player of his country at the time of his retirement in 2019, behind Marek Hamšík and Miroslav Karhan.

Škrtel made his debut for Zenit Saint Petersburg in a Russian Cup match on 31 July 2004.

He said that the presence of Slovak and Czech players helped him to adjust to his new team.

He played 113 times and scored 5 goals for the club, winning the Russian Premier League title in the 2007 season.

Škrtel previously played for FK AS Trenčín and Zenit Saint Petersburg, before joining Liverpool for £6.5 million in January 2008.

After eight-and-a-half years with Liverpool, where he played 320 official games and scored 18 goals, he joined Fenerbahçe.

He has won the Russian Premier League and the League Cup, as well as being named Slovak Footballer of the Year four times.

Valencia, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Newcastle United were all reported to be interested in his services, but he ended up signing for Liverpool in the January 2008 transfer window.

Škrtel joined Liverpool on 11 January 2008 on a four-and-a-half-year contract for a transfer fee of £6.5 million.

On completion of the deal, then Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez said of Škrtel:

"'He is aggressive, quick, is good in the air and I think he's a very good player for the future and also for the present. He is very competitive, but his mentality for me is very good'."

He made his league debut against Aston Villa, wearing the number 37 for Liverpool.

Benítez also compared Škrtel to legendary Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.

Škrtel made a bright start to the 2008–09 season, starting in all but one Premier League match and displacing out of favour Daniel Agger to the bench.

He put in a number of strong performances with defensive partner Jamie Carragher against many top teams, notably Manchester United, Everton and Marseille in the UEFA Champions League.

On 5 October 2008, Škrtel suffered a serious knee injury after falling awkwardly when challenging Ched Evans late in a game against Manchester City which Liverpool went on to win 3–2.

It was later confirmed that he had torn the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee but did not require surgery and was "expected to be back before Christmas".

On 28 December 2008, Škrtel returned from injury as a late substitute in Liverpool's 5–1 away win at Newcastle.

He was a regular starter for Liverpool during the second half of the season, as the team finished second in the Premier League with 86 points.

On 21 November 2009, Škrtel scored his first goal for Liverpool in a 2–2 draw with Manchester City.

He also retired as Slovakia's 10th best international scorer with 6 goals, sharing the spot with Július Šimon and Miroslav Stoch.

He represented the country as they reached the last 16 at both the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016.

Škrtel was born in Handlová.

At the time of his birth, Handlová was in Czechoslovakia but today, the town exists in Slovakia.

On 26 February 2010, it was confirmed that he had broken his metatarsal in his right foot while playing in the 3–1 UEFA Europa League victory over Unirea Urziceni the previous day.

On 18 August 2010, Škrtel signed a two-year contract extension with Liverpool, committing his future to the club until 2014.

During the 2010–11 season, Škrtel played every minute of every Premier League match.

On 28 November, in a match against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, Škrtel scored both his second career goal for the club and his first Premier League own goal as Liverpool lost 2–1.

In May 2011, Škrtel stated that he felt the 2010–11 season had been his best for the club to date.

On 27 August 2011, Škrtel scored a headed goal for Liverpool against Bolton Wanderers in his first league appearance of the season from an unfamiliar right-back position.

On 18 September, he was sent off in a 4–0 away defeat against Tottenham.

On 18 December, Škrtel scored Liverpool's second goal in a league match away to Aston Villa in a 2–0 win.

His first goal of 2012 came in a FA Cup fifth round tie against Brighton & Hove Albion, opening the scoring within five minutes of kick-off with header from a corner kick.

On 26 February 2012, Škrtel scored against Cardiff City in the 2012 Football League Cup Final.

Liverpool won 3–2 on penalties after the match had ended in a 2–2 draw, giving Škrtel his first trophy as a Liverpool player.

At the midway point of the season, Liverpool had the best defensive record in the Premier League.

Liverpool left back José Enrique described Škrtel and Daniel Agger as "the best defensive partnership in the Premier League".