The biography of Martin Skrtel, the former Slovak footballer

The biography of Martin Skrtel, the former Slovak footballer

Grace Waruguru
updated at May 18, 2024 at 6:19 PM

Martin Skrtel is a retired Slovak professional footballer who graced the global limelight while playing for Liverpool (2008-2016). His exceptional skill has won him individual accolades in various categories. Here is a detailed biography of the athlete.

Martin Skrtel
Martin Skrtel is a retired Slovak footballer who spent 8 years with F.C Liverpool. Photo: @martin37skrtel (Modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Table of Сontents:

Martin Skrtel retired from international football in 2019. By the time of his exit, he has earned 104 caps, ranking him third after Marek Hamšík and Miroslav Karhan. Despite experiencing injuries during his active years, Martin made his mark in the sport and is now playing with local clubs. What is his story? Keep reading to find out.

Martin Skrtel's profile and bio summary

Full name

Martin Skrtel

Age

39 years old (As of May 2024)

Nickname

Terminator

Date of birth

December 15th, 1984

Place of birth

Handlová, Czechoslovakia

Nationality

Slovak

Parents

Jana Skrtelová, Dusan Skrtel

Siblings

Marcela Skrtelová and Dusan Skrtel

Marital status

Married

Partner

Barbora Skrtelová

Son

Matteo

Height

6 feet, 3 inches

Weight

81 kgs

Hair colour

Dark brown

Eye colour

Brown

Education

Prievidza Youth Academy

Profession

Professional footballer

Position

Centre-back

Social media presence

Instagram

What is Martin Skrtel's age?

Martin Skrtel in January 2020
Martin Skrtel poses for a photo during an exclusive interview within Medipol Basaksehir's mid-season training camp in Antalya, Turkey on January 9, 2020. Photo: Mustafa Ciftci (Modified by author)
Source: Original

Skrtel was born on December 15th, 1974, and is 34 years old as of May 2024. He started playing football at age six but was forced to retire due to injuries.

Martin Skrtel's biography

The Slovak national was born in Handlová, Czechoslovakia, to Jana Skrtelová and Dusan Skrtel. His siblings are Marcela Skrtelová and Dusan Skrtel. Unfortunately, further details of Martin Skrtel's family, upbringing, and residence remain undisclosed.

Education

Martin attended local primary and high schools before proceeding to Prievidza Youth Academy to advance his football skills. It is not clear if he pursued tertiary education.

Who is Martin Sktrtel's wife?

Skrtel is married to Barbora Skrtelová. The pair prefer to keep their love life away from the glare, and their relationship timeline is not public. On October 7th, 2011, they welcomed their son, Matteo, into the world.

Career

Martin Skrtel in Turkey
Martin Skrtel at an exclusive interview within Medipol Basaksehir's mid-season training camp in Antalya, Turkey on January 9, 2020. Photo: Mustafa Ciftci
Source: Getty Images

The 39-year-old has honed his skills since he was a boy. He spent his youth career with Baník Prievidza and the Slovak Youth team before proceeding to FK AS Trenčín from 2001 to 2004. In 2004, he transferred to Zenit Saint Petersburg, a Russian professional club, and served until 2008.

Is Martin Skrtel a Liverpool legend? The father of one joined Liverpool in 2008, spending the next eight seasons (320 appearances) with the English team. The team's coach at the time spoke highly of the athlete,

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."

The Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel duo gained popularity during their tenure in the sport thanks to their complementary skills. Agger was left-footed, allowing Martin to play on his dominant side.

In their first 15 years, the pair maintained an unbeaten record, with no goals scored against them. This achievement set the standards for disciplined disciples as a natural phenomenon, with one providing elegance and the other providing grit.

Martin Skrtel's jersey

Former midfielder Martin Skrtel
Martin Skrtel during the UEFA Euro 2016 Round of 16 match between Germany and Slovakia at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on June 26, 2016, in Lille, France. Photo: Matthew Ashton
Source: Getty Images

Liverpool player Martin Skrtel wore number 37 for a significant part of his career. According to 90min.com, he combined his lucky number (3) and his then-girlfriend's number (7). The centre-back also wore jersey numbers 3 and 4. Some of Skrtel's career stats include:

  • He played 44 games for Trenčín between 2001 and 2004, scoring 8 goals.
  • Martin made 13 appearances for Zenit Saint Petersburg, winning the Russian Cup in 2007.
  • The player spent 8 years in Liverpool and lifted the Football League Cup in 2012.
  • Skrtel was named the Slovak Footballer of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012.
  • The 39-year-old was named the Liverpool Player of the Year in 2012.
  • Skrtel is the third most frequently capped player in Slovakia's history.

Martin Skrtel's head injury

In January 2014, the defender incurred a head wound after clashing with Bournemouth's Andrew Surman during the FA Cup. In December of the same year, Martin suffered another head injury during Liverpool's match against Arsenal. He received seven staples and returned to score an equalizer that ended the game at 2-2.

Martin Skrtel's physical stats

The Slovak player is 6 feet and 3 inches tall and weighs 81 kg. He has dark brown hair and brown eyes. Recent images of Martin Skrtel with hair have amused fans as he was known for his bald hairstyle.

Martin Skrtel's net worth

Martin Skrtel in 2019
Martin Skrtel during the match between Medipol Basaksehir FK and Caykur Rizespor AS at the Recep Fatih Terim stadium on September 27, 2019, in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo: VI Images
Source: Getty Images

Martin is undoubtedly among the wealthiest football players today. According to online data, the defender is worth approximately $27 million. His transfer to Liverpool from Zenit was worth an estimated £6.5 million. Unfortunately, the details of Skrtel's financial portfolio remain undisclosed.

Where is Martin Skrtel now?

In February 2019, Martin announced his retirement from international football. Three years later, Martin Skrtel's retirement from professional football became official in 2022. In a social media post, he said,

Because of long-time back problems it’s impossible for me to keep playing,” Skrtel posted on social media. “That’s why I had to make such a decision.

After transitioning, Skrtel turned his focus to local football and has played as a striker for FK Hajskala Raztocno in the lowest division in Slovakia. The athlete's return was to keep a promise to his childhood friends that he would return after leaving professional football.

Frequently asked questions

Martin Skrtel in Liverpool, England
Martin Skrtel at the LFC Foundation charity match between Liverpool FC Legends and AFC Ajax Legends at Anfield on March 23, 2024, in Liverpool, England. Photo: Liverpool FC
Source: Getty Images

Liverpool legend Martin Skrtel has gone full circle, spending the prime of his career with competitive clubs and now giving back to his community. Here are some frequently asked questions about the player:

Where is Martin Skrtel from?

Skrtel was born in Handlová, Czechoslovakia, making him a Slovak national. His parents are Jana Skrtelová and Dusan Skrtel.

Is Martin Skrtel married?

Martin is married to Barbora Skrtelová. The details of their relationship are undisclosed. The lovebirds have one son, Matteo.

What is Martin Skrtel doing now?

Martin Skrtel at AXA Training Centre
Martin Skrtel during a training session at AXA Training Centre on September 23, 2022, in Kirkby, England. Photo: Andrew Powell
Source: Getty Images

The former defender retired from professional football in 2022 and went on to play with local club FK Hajskala Raztocno. He is a striker.

Final word

Martin Skrtel enjoyed a thriving career that earned him global recognition. Despite facing numerous injuries, the player stayed strong to the end and is now enjoying his retirement building local football.

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Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.