Martin Dubravka has hailed former Newcastle United goalkeeper coach Simon Smith - and the Slovakia international revealed all the stars who worked with him feel the same.
Smith left the club in the summer after the end of two long stints at St James' Park. His departure was soon followed by Dubravka's exit after the ex-Sparta Prague man signed for Manchester United on loan.
The former Gateshead goalkeeper and England coach was a notable absentee on the club's pre-season tours of Austria and Portugal. And the confirmation of Smith's surprise exit soon followed.
Dubravka told Chronicle Live: "Simon Smith is a fantastic human being. I have to say. Obviously, he was so professional and spent many years at Newcastle. And if you ask the other goalies they will only find positive words.
"So I would love to say a big thank you to him because he was here since I signed. And he made it much easier for me right from the beginning. I'd say a big thank you from all the keepers that he worked with. He deserves that."
United players found out that Smith had gone at the start of pre-season just days after physio Derek Wright announced his retirement.
Dubravka added: "When it happened I text him straight away. I told him we'd go for dinner. We want to do it as a group, and as all the lads working together."
Meanwhile, Smith has insisted he has not retired and could be back in football soon. He said: "As you may have seen I have left my job at Newcastle United as Head of Goalkeeping. Just to make it clear that I haven’t ‘retired’ ! I have had some lovely messages wishing me good luck in my retirement….but no I haven’t retired."
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