Former Liverpool player Martin Skrtel starts new role as sporting director

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In a parallel universe, Liverpool are currently chugging along under the stewardship of new manager Xabi Alonso.

The former Reds midfielder had looked like an obvious choice to take over after Jurgen Klopp announced his decision to leave in January.

Clearly one of the sharpest young minds in football management, Alonso was in the middle of what would become an unbeaten domestic season with Bayer Leverkusen.

However, the Spaniard rejected the chance to move to Anfield, preferring to stay and continue his development with Leverkusen. Alonso will return to Merseyside with his team in the Champions League in December.

Liverpool instead turned to Arne Slot as their new head coach and also needed to find a sporting director to fill a role that had been passed around over recent years.

That job has since been filled by Richard Hughes. But should they need a new face at some time in the future, they could now call upon one of Alonso’s former Anfield teammates for help.

Martin Skrtel begins sporting director career

Although he didn’t appear to do a great deal during this summer, Hughes has been praised by fellow sporting directors at rival clubs.

Only time will really tell if the former Portsmouth midfielder is a good fit for Liverpool. But in the eyes of supporters, he does need to start doing more.

Hughes being a former player himself does point to the fact that more and more ex-professionals are beginning to try being sporting directors instead of moving into coaching.

And now, former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel is the latest to follow that pathway.

READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp’s first ever starting XI at Liverpool including Martin Skrtel

As per Slovakian outlet Sport.SK, Skrtel has taken over as sporting director at Slovak side DAC Dunajska Streda.

“First of all, I’m grateful,” the 39-year-old is quoted as saying. “I want to thank the owner of the club and the executive director for their trust and chance.

“A new stage is beginning for me and I believe that I will be able to transform the experience I have gained as a player into a new job and a new position.

“I am glad that this chance has come and I can take this new official path in this club,” adds Skrtel. “I will do everything I can not to disappoint and fulfil my task and the goals of the club.”

Who are DAC Dunajska Streda?

This looks like a really interesting step from Skrtel. The former centre-back now has a real chance to make his mark on the top level of the game in his home country.

FC DAC are currently in third place in the Slovakian top division. As current league leaders Slovan Bratislava showed on Wednesday night, it is possible to make it to the Champions League from there.

Interestingly, DAC are also the direct rival of the club Skrtel supported as a boy, Spartak Trnava.

“I have never hidden, and I will never hide, that I am a fan of Trnava,” says the former Reds defender, who left in 2016 after eight-and-a-half years with Liverpool.

“At the moment, however, I have to separate emotions from professional life. Events that also concerned the owners have developed in such a way that I am here. I wanted to stay in Slovakia, there were also offers abroad, but they were not interesting to me.”

Good luck, Martin!