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Martin Skrtel has opened up on his journey to becoming Spartak Trnava’s director of sport.

The former Liverpool defender, who spent eight and half years at Anfield as a player, was appointed as an executive at the Slovakian club in March after a short spell at Dunajska Streda.

Skrtel finished his playing career in Slovakia, representing Trnava for a single season, and has described the return to his boyhood club as a "dream."

"Since I was a child, I was supporting the club and it was kind of my dream to come to the club and have a chance to represent Sparta Trnava as a player.

So that was my dream too, to be part of the club as a play and then after I finish.

"Obviously, we had many conversations with the board members and with the president about the possibility to join the club from a different position

At the moment, I'm here in the club to work as a sporting director."

The 40-year-old described his new role as a “minimum 18 hours” per day position.

He also explained his aims at Spartak are to ensure the club competes domestically for silverware and has the opportunity to qualify for European positions, while he also hopes to develop players who can establish themselves in Europe’s top leagues.

"For us it's a big thing to try to develop the players from our academy and try to sell to Europe," he added

"So that the money we invest into them then in summer we'll bring them back to the club.

"We feel we have a good generation of players growing up and I believe that if we direct them in a good way, in the right way, that they can be a strong part of our team, a strong part of our national team and then also be able to play in a top club in Europe.

"Obviously I had the chance to play football on the top level, and I know what it meant for myself, for my family, and also for the football fans who are so lucky.

"So I believe and I hope many more, not Martin Skrtels, but also better players than myself, will be part of the biggest club in Europe."

Skrtel made 320 appearances for Liverpool, the last coming in 2016 before a move to Fenerbahce