Martin Skrtel looks unrecognisable and is now playing 'like Messi' seven years after leaving LFC

Via echo

For anyone who hasn’t cast eyes on Martin Skrtel for a while, his appearance can come as a shock.

Famed for his aggressively-shaven head during his playing days at Liverpool, the former defender strides into the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Singapore with a fine head of hair.

Skrtel

“It’s not fake!” he laughs. “A lot of people have now said that I do not look as scary or ugly any more, so I think I will keep it!”

Having retired professional last year, the former centre-back is keeping a promise by turning out for local club FK Hajskala Raztocno.

Skrtel adds

“You wouldn’t believe it, but I’m the striker for them now!”

“Actually, I’m more of a Messi-style player in that I just go where I want. When I left my village at 15 to play professionally, I said to my friends that one day when I have retired that I would come back and play with them again.

“And they remembered that, so in the last few years of my career they’d be calling me saying, ‘just finish, we want to play with you again!’. Then when I retired, obviously my fitness wasn’t the best but I wanted to fulfil my promise, so I went back.

“It’s the lowest division in Slovakia, the level isn’t the best. In the first game I was at centre-back, and I like to pass the ball out from the back but there wasn’t anyone to pass to. So I said to the coach, ‘maybe I should go to the midfield and have the ball a bit more’. So I stayed there all season and scored a few goals. I enjoy it because it’s different. You’re just playing the game and afterwards can have a few beers. It’s great!”

“To be a part of the club again and see how the fans are happy to see me again is something special and an honour for me,”

"I am thankful for it. Unfortunately I’ve only been back three to Anfield three times since I left as I was always busy playing. I came back for two Legends games and also for an appearance there as we are doing a movie about my career. I was there filming some stuff. It’s always nice to come back. Now I’m retired I have more free time and hopefully I’ll be able to come back more often.”