Martin Škrtel

Martin Škrtel
Škrtel Slovakia.jpg
Personal information
Full name Martin Škrtel
Date of birth 15 December 1984 (1984-12-15) (age 26)
Place of birth Handlová, Czechoslovakia
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current club Liverpool
Number 37
Youth career
FK Prievidza
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2001–2004 Trenčín 44 (8)
2004–2008 Zenit Saint Petersburg 74 (3)
2008– Liverpool 57 (1)
National team‡
2004– Slovakia 44 (5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:49, 14 May 2010 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 August 2010

Martin Škrtel (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈʃkr̩tɛl]; born 15 December 1984) is a Slovak football defender who plays for English Premier League club Liverpool and the Slovakia national team.

Contents

Biography

Born in Handlová, Škrtel was raised in Ráztočno [2] and began playing football at the age of six. [3] Although a competent ice hockey player, he followed his father's career.[4][5] He is the youngest of three children, with an older brother Dušan and sister Marcela.[6]

Škrtel played as left wing or striker until the age of 16 when he was asked to fill in as a centre-back for the Slovak youth team. He agreed even though he had never played that position before.[2]

Trenčín

Škrtel started his professional career at FK AS Trenčín. He played in 45 games for them between 2001 and 2004.[3]

Zenit Saint Petersburg

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 the new team.[4] He played 113 times and scored 5 goals for the club.[4] Valencia, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, and Newcastle United were all reported to be interested in his services,[7] but he ended up signing for Liverpool in the January 2008 transfer window.[8][9][10][11][12]

Liverpool

Skrtel playing for Liverpool in 2008

Škrtel joined Liverpool on 11 January 2008 on a four-and-a-half year contract for a transfer fee of £6.5 million.[2] On completion of the deal, 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 has also compared Škrtel to present Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.[8][9]

On 26 January 2008, Škrtel played in Liverpool's 4th Round FA Cup tie against non-league side Havant & Waterlooville, when he nervously gave away a corner which put Liverpool 1–0 behind, and was also involved in a goal mouth scramble which saw Liverpool go 2–1 down after having equalised, before Liverpool eventually won 5–2. But he put in a solid display in the league game against Chelsea, making several good clearances and interceptions, and was voted Man of the Match by the Liverpool supporters on their official website. Liverpool fans have warmed to Škrtel and he is now considered an integral part of Liverpool's defence after turning in several more solid performances at centre half, especially in both UEFA Champions League quarter-final legs against Arsenal.

Škrtel was voted Man of the Match by Liverpool supporters on Liverpoolfc.TV, for his performance in the 1–0 derby win over Everton at Anfield on March 30, 2008, Škrtel's first ever appearance in a Merseyside derby.

Škrtel made a bright start to the 2008–09 campaign, 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 Olympique Marseille. However, on 5th October 2009, Martin suffered a serious knee injury after falling awkwardly when challenging Ched Evans late in a game against Manchester City. Liverpool went on to win the game 3-2 but it was later confirmed the central defender had torn the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and would face up to 8 weeks on the sidelines.[13]

He scored his first goal for Liverpool in a 2–2 draw with Manchester City on 21 November 2009.[14] On 26th February 2010, it was confirmed that he had broken his metatarsal in his right foot while playing in the 3–1 victory over Unirea Urziceni the previous day.[15] On 18 August 2010, Skrtel signed a two-year contract extension with Liverpool, committing his future to Liverpool until 2014.[16]

International career

Škrtel played international football for Slovakia youth teams [3] before making his debut in the Slovakia national football team in 2004. Škrtel was selected in Slovakia's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the country's first as an independent nation. He played a crucial part in the side's 3-2 win over reigning champions Italy, which saw Slovakia reach the knock-out stages ahead of the Italians.

Club statistics

Club Performance
Club Season England Premier League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
2007–08 1 14 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 - - 20 0
2008–09 2 21 0 2 0 0 0 7 0 - - 30 0
2009–10 3 19 1 2 0 2 0 6 0 - - 29 1
2010–11 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 - - 6 0
Club Total 4 57 1 5 0 2 0 21 0 0 0 85 1
Last updated 16 January 2010

Honours

Zenit St Petersburg

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Skrtel official profile". http://http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/first-team/player/37-martin-skrtel. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Smith, Allen (2009-03-20). "Martin Skrtel proving to be another fine Rafael Benitez signing". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/alansmith/5024198/Martin-Skrtel-proving-to-be-another-fine-Rafael-Benitez-signing.html. Retrieved 2009-03-22. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Официальный сайт ФК "Зенит" / Мартин Шкртел" (in Russian). FC Zenit Official Website. http://fc-zenit.ru/info/person.phtml?id=215. Retrieved 2008-01-28. "Начал заниматься футболом с 6 лет. Воспитанник ФК «Превизда». ... Выступал за юношескую и молодёжную сборные Словакии. ... Карьера игрока. 2001 – 2004 : ФК «Тренчин», Словакия (45 матчей)." 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "The Official Zenit FC Website / First Team / Defenders / Martin Skrtel". FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. http://fc-zenit.ru/eng/person.phtml?id=215. Retrieved 2008-01-08. 
  5. ↑ Hassall, Paul (2008-01-11). "10 things you didn't know about our new boy". Liverpool FC. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N158340080111-1217.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-11. 
  6. ↑ Korbel, Jozef (2009-03-20). "Môj Martin je dedinský chlapec". sme.sk. http://www.sme.sk/c/3672534/Moj-Martin-je-dedinsky-chlapec.html. Retrieved 2008-01-11. 
  7. ↑ "Futbal: Škrtel blízko podpisu s FC Liverpool" (in Slovakian). sme.sk. 2008-01-07. http://futbal.sme.sk/c/3665600/Futbal-Skrtel-blizko-podpisu-s-FC-Liverpool.html. Retrieved 2008-01-07. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Hunter, Steve (2008-01-11). "Skrtel signs until 2012". Liverpool FC. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N158347080111-1215.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-11. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Liverpool confirm Skrtel signing". London: BBC Sport. 2008-01-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/7176502.stm. Retrieved 2008-01-11. 
  10. ↑ "Liverpool set to seal Skrtel deal". London: BBC Sport. 2008-01-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/7176502.stm. Retrieved 2008-01-08. 
  11. ↑ Barrett, Tony (2008-01-07). "Reds in £6.5m Martin Skrtel swoop". Liverpool Echo (Liverpool). http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/01/07/reds-in-6-5m-martin-skrtel-swoop-100252-20320371/. Retrieved 2008-01-07. 
  12. ↑ Barrett, Tony (2008-01-08). "Martin Skrtel to sign after passing medical". Liverpool Echo (Liverpool). http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/01/08/martin-skrtel-to-sign-after-passing-medical-100252-20323779/. Retrieved 2008-01-08. 
  13. ↑ Edwards, John (2010-05-17). "I feared my career was over, says injured Liverpool defender Skrtel". Mail Online (Liverpool). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1075930/I-feared-career-says-injured-Liverpool-defender-Skrtel.html. Retrieved 2010-05-17. 
  14. ↑ "Liverpool 2 – 2 Man City". BBC. 21 November 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8364417.stm. Retrieved 21 November 2009. 
  15. ↑ "Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel out for eight weeks". BBC Sport. 2010-03-01. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8537891.stm. Retrieved 2010-08-18. 
  16. ↑ "Martin Skrtel extends Liverpool contract until 2014". BBC Sport. 2010-08-18. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8923499.stm. Retrieved 2010-08-18. 
  17. ↑ http://www.soccerpunter.com/soccer-statistics/Russia/Russia-Premier-League-2007-2008
  18. ↑ "Škrtel takes Slovakian prize". uefa.com. 2008-02-04. http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=653102.html. Retrieved 2008-02-12. 
  19. ↑ "Martin Skrtel Is Again Slovak Footballer of the Year". Radio Slovakia International. 2009-03-27. http://www.slovakradio.sk/inetportal/rsi/core.php?page=showSprava&id=15598&lang=2. Retrieved 2009-04-02. 
  20. ↑ "Vittek honoured in Slovakia". uefa.com. 2006-12-21. http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=492830.html. Retrieved 2008-01-28. 
  21. ↑ "Кто за Акинфеева? Все!". Sport Express. 2006-12-19. http://www.sport-express.ru/art.shtml?132157. Retrieved 2008-01-28. "Левые центральные защитники: Колодин – 9, Шемберас – 9, Шкртел – 7." 

External links

Slovak Footballer of the Year
1993: Dubovský | 1994: Kinder | 1995: Tittel | 1996: Tittel | 1997: Tittel | 1998: Majoroš | 1999: Labant | 2000: Németh | 2001: Moravčík | 2002: Karhan | 2003: Janočko | 2004: Mintál | 2005: Mintál | 2006: Vittek | 2007: Škrtel | 2008: Škrtel | 2009: Hamšík
Liverpool F.C. – current squad

1 Jones · 2 Johnson · 3 Konchesky · 4 Meireles · 5 Agger · 6 F. Aurélio · 8 Gerrard (c) · 9 Torres · 10 Cole · 12 Pacheco · 14 Jovanović · 16 Kyrgiakos · 17 Maxi · 18 Kuyt · 19 Babel · 21 Lucas · 22 Wilson · 23 Carragher · 24 N'Gog · 25 Reina · 26 Spearing · 28 Poulsen · 33 Shelvey · 34 Kelly · 36 Irwin · 37 Škrtel · 38 Flanagan · 39 Eccleston · 41 Hansen · 42 Gulácsi · 43 Bouzanis · 46 Amoo · 47 Wisdom · 48 Bruna · 49 Robinson · Manager: Hodgson
Slovakia squad – 2010 FIFA World Cup
1 Mucha • 2 Pekarík • 3 Škrtel • 4 Čech • 5 Zabavník • 6 Štrba • 7 Weiss • 8 Kozák • 9 Šesták • 10 Sapara • 11 Vittek • 12 Perniš • 13 Hološko • 14 Jakubko • 15 Stoch • 16 Ďurica • 17 Hamšík (c) • 18 Jendrišek • 19 Kucka • 20 Kopúnek • 21 Saláta • 22 Petráš • 23 Kuciak • Coach: Weiss
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