Tomasz Skublak, striker for Inter Toronto FC and a real estate agent, at the Platinum Lion Realty office in Toronto on Wednesday. Skublak recently went viral after scoring a goal and flashing his business card to the camera while miming 'call me.'Alejandro Gomez Garcia/The Globe and Mail
Striker Tomasz Skublak knows he is just one kick away from a highlight-reel moment whenever he takes the pitch for Inter Toronto FC. And in his other career as a realtor, he understands the value of good marketing.
The 28-year-old from Hamilton created a memorable career confluence last Friday when he scored twice in a 4-1 win over Canadian Premier League champion Atletico Ottawa at York Lions Stadium.
Skublak opened the scoring in the 50th minute, celebrating his goal by running toward the corner flag before pausing to take off his gloves and dig into his sock for his realtor business card, which he then held up in front of the camera while pretending to take a phone call.
“If you need a home in the GTA [Greater Toronto Area] you call Tomasz Skublak. If you need a goal, you call Tomasz Skublak,” said OneSoccer play-by-play voice Adam Jenkins.
It helped that the celebration followed a sweet strike, with 12 passes leading to a long looping ball that dropped in front of Skublak as he headed into the Ottawa penalty box. He let the ball bounce twice before knocking a right-footed shot into the far corner, leaving Ottawa goalkeeper Garissone Innocent rooted to the spot.
A smiling Skublak then colourfully combined business with pleasure.
The goal celebration went viral, with Reuters, USA Today and Pakistan’s News International newspaper taking notice, among other outlets. And the interest continues.
“It’s been definitely hectic,” Skublak said of the goal celebration aftermath.
“I’ve been doing marketing for my [real estate] business for 3 1/2 years now. I kind of understand the gist of how those little clips can make a difference,” he added. “But my expectations to what I wanted to do have been far exceeded with the attention that it’s gotten.”
Inter coach Mauro Eustáquio didn’t figure out the celebration until after the game, having missed the flourishing of the business card. But days later, it brought a smile to his face.
“It’s Tomasz. … He’s a character. He has a personality obviously,” he said. “We knew he had a side gig when we gave him a contract.”
Skublak plays foosball at the Platinum Lion Realty office. The 28-year-old puts in long days at both of his jobs as he pursues his dream of playing professional soccer.Alejandro Gomez Garcia/The Globe and Mail
Skublak came up with the business card plan during a photo shoot prior to the season, when teammates asked him about whether he had a goal celebration in mind.
“I thought ‘I get 10 seconds [in the spotlight] once I score a goal,’” he said. “I might as well try and utilize it to the best of my ability.”
Skublak opened his scoring account for the season on April 25 in a 1-1 draw at Cavalry FC but elected to keep his goal celebration powder dry until he scored at home.
“Because the business I do is here,” he explained. “I can’t sell houses in Calgary.”
While football has taken Skublak to pro teams in Armenia (Lori FC in Vanadzor) and Germany (Brandenburg 03 in Berlin) between CPL stints with the Halifax Wanderers and Inter Toronto, real estate came later.
Forced to return to Canada in 2020 due to the pandemic after two years playing in Europe, Skublak got a job selling furniture at Ashley HomeStore in Hamilton.
While he did well, it wasn’t his passion. And he found there were down times during the week.
As Skublak, enjoys a successful season in the Canadian Premier League with Inter Toronto FC, his career as a real estate agent is also taking off.Alejandro Gomez Garcia/The Globe and Mail
Rather than do nothing, he started researching options and was inspired by the book Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon Lechter.
“He was very big on real estate so I kind of dove into that,” said Skublak.
Taking advantage of quiet time at the furniture store – when he wasn’t getting paid being on commission – he started work on his real estate license.
Six or seven months later, he got his license, quit the furniture store and joined a real estate brokerage. It became his full-time job for three years while he played semi-pro soccer in League1 Ontario (now known as the Ontario Premier League).
“I was trading a lot of my time to put into the business, but now I have it at a point where I can start delegating because I have people that work for me,” he explained.
The 6-foot-2 forward is now affiliated with Platinum Lion Realty, a boutique brokerage in Dundas, Ont.
It still keeps him busy. Skublak normally gets up at 5:40 a.m. to set up his day before heading to suburban Vaughan, Ont., to train with Inter Toronto in the mornings.
Done with football around 1 p.m., he then puts on his realtor hat and works typically until 9 p.m., meeting clients, working the phone from his car or going to the office.
While it makes for a hectic schedule, Skublak – who handles both residential and commercial real estate – enjoys it.
With practice time, games sprinkled into his weeknights and weekends and the demands of being a realtor, Skublak gives thanks to a fiancée who accommodates his very full schedule.Alejandro Gomez Garcia/The Globe and Mail
“Every day is different. And it’s not sedentary. I can’t do sitting at a desk, forced to be there for eight hours,” he said.
In what little down time he has, Skublak can be found at the golf course. There is also a June wedding to plan.
“I have a fantastic fiancée,” he said.
“She’s very supportive with all the stuff that I do and understanding. Because obviously doing what I do, I’m away a lot as well as on the phone a lot. So we could be out on a dinner date on a Saturday and a client could call me and I have to take the call.”
While the goal celebration has earned Skublak attention as well as a few possible sales leads, he says it’s too early to tell whether it will be a boost for his business. But requests for interviews continue to come in.
Skublak is one of the few Inter Toronto players with a second career, although a few work part-time outside of soccer. Some teammates have clothing brands while others help out with the family business, with one delivering for his father’s pasta company.
“We do have a lot of international guys and obviously the only thing they’re doing is playing football,” Skublak said.
Skublak, who played collegiate soccer at the University of Guelph before spending two seasons at the University of South Florida, is on his second stint at Inter Toronto. He had a tryout with the club, then known with York9 FC, prior to the CPL’s inaugural 2019 season.
Playing out of position as a defender, he was not able to show his best. He eventually signed with Halifax, scoring four goals and adding two assists in 25 appearances before heading to Europe.
Back in Canada, he excelled in League1 Ontario, scoring 56 goals in 65 matches with Vaughan Azzurri, Guelph United and Scrosoppi FC. He won both league titles and MVP honours despite spending 60 to 80 hours a week to build his real estate business.
A tryout with Inter last season was derailed by injury.
“Finally things aligned. He was fit, he was back healthy,” said Eustaquio. “I like his qualities. I think he’s different. He’s a workhorse and he has very good technical attributes for a tall, robust guy.”
Skublak’s two-goal performance against Ottawa – his second came in the 55th minute thanks to a slip by a defender in front of goal – earned him CPL player of the week honours for week 5. With three goals in four games, he is in a four-way tie with teammate Julian Altobelli, Forge’s Brian Wright, and Halifax’s Isaiah Johnston for the Golden Boot lead.
Inter Toronto (2-0-2) hosts Ligue1 Quebec champion CS Saint-Laurent in Canadian Championship play Sunday.