Petr Čech facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Petr Čech
Čech with Arsenal in 2019
Born	(1982-05-20) 20 May 1982 (age 43) Plzeň, Czechoslovakia
Alma mater	Longford International College (MBA)
Height	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Petr Čech Personal information Playing position Goalkeeper Youth career 1989–1999 Viktoria Plzeň Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1999–2001 Chmel Blšany 27 (0) 2001–2002 Sparta Prague 27 (0) 2002–2004 Rennes 70 (0) 2004–2015 Chelsea 333 (0) 2015–2019 Arsenal 110 (0) Total 567 (0) National team 1997–1998 Czech Republic U15 3 (0) 1998–1999 Czech Republic U16 15 (0) 1999 Czech Republic U17 3 (0) 1999–2000 Czech Republic U18 13 (0) 2000–2001 Czech Republic U20 7 (0) 2001–2002 Czech Republic U21 15 (0) 2002–2016 Czech Republic 124 (0) Honours Men's football Representing  Czech Republic UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner 2002 Switzerland Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).
Ice hockey career Weight 92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb) Position Goaltender Catches Right NIHL team Former teams Oxford City Stars Guildford Phoenix Chelmsford Chieftains Belfast Giants Playing career 2019–present

Petr Čech (born 20 May 1982) is a famous Czech former football player. He played as a goalkeeper. Many people think he is one of the best goalkeepers ever. Some even say he is the greatest in Premier League history. After retiring from football, he started playing ice hockey as a goaltender for Oxford City Stars.

Čech started his football career in 1999 with Chmel Blšany. In 2001, he moved to Sparta Prague. At just 19, he became a regular player. He set a league record by not letting in a goal for 903 minutes. This amazing performance led him to join Rennes in France in 2002.

In 2004, Čech moved to Chelsea in England for £7 million. He played for Chelsea for eleven years, making 494 appearances. He helped Chelsea win many titles. These included four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, one UEFA Champions League title, and one UEFA Europa League title. He also holds Chelsea's record for 228 clean sheets. In 2015, Čech joined Arsenal. He won another FA Cup there before retiring in 2019.

Čech also played for the Czech Republic. He is their most capped player with 124 games. He played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and four European Championships. He was named in the Euro 2004 All-Star team. He also holds the record for the most Czech Footballer of the Year and Czech Golden Ball awards.

Čech holds several goalkeeping records. He reached 100 Premier League clean sheets in just 180 games. He also has the most clean sheets in Premier League history (202). He is the only goalkeeper to win the Premier League Golden Glove with two different clubs. He won it a record four times.

Football Career Highlights

Starting Out as a Striker

Čech began playing football at age seven for Škoda Plzeň. This club is now known as Viktoria Plzeň. Interestingly, he first played as a striker. He only became a goalkeeper after breaking his leg when he was ten.

In June 1999, Čech joined Czech First League team Chmel Blšany. He made his first league appearance at 17 in October 1999.

Breaking Records at Sparta Prague

In January 2001, Čech signed with Sparta Prague. He was 18 years old. In November 2001, he broke a record. He went 855 minutes without letting in a goal in the Czech professional league. This amazing run ended at 903 minutes.

Moving to France with Rennes

In July 2002, Čech moved to the French club Rennes. He signed a four-year contract. The transfer fee was about €5.5 million.

During his first season in France, he was named man of the match against Paris Saint-Germain. In May 2003, Rennes was at the bottom of the league. But they avoided being moved down to a lower league. They won their final match against Montpellier.

Joining Chelsea: A New Era

Chelsea tried to buy Čech in January 2004, but Rennes said no. However, in February, Rennes agreed to let Čech move to Chelsea for £7 million. Čech signed a five-year contract. He became Chelsea's most expensive goalkeeper at that time.

Winning the Golden Glove

When Čech arrived at Chelsea, Carlo Cudicini was the main goalkeeper. But Cudicini got injured before the season started. This allowed Chelsea manager José Mourinho to make Čech the first-choice goalkeeper. He kept a clean sheet in his first Premier League game. Chelsea won 1–0 against Manchester United.

On 5 March 2005, Čech set a new Premier League record. He went 1,025 minutes without letting in a goal. He finally let in a goal against Norwich City. Čech received a special award for this record. He also won the Premier League Golden Glove award. This was for keeping a record 24 clean sheets in the 2004–05 season.

Chelsea won the Premier League title again in the 2005–06 season. Čech played in 34 league matches. Chelsea only let in 22 goals that season. In January 2006, he was named the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper for 2005. He also won the Czech Footballer of the Year award for the first time.

Čech and Arjen Robben celebrate their second Premier League title in 2006

Brave Return After Head Injury

Čech got a serious head injury on 14 October 2006. This happened during a match against Reading. He collided with Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt. Hunt's knee hit Čech's head. Čech needed surgery for a depressed skull fracture. Doctors later said the injury almost cost him his life. He also suffered bad headaches.

Čech went home on 24 October 2006. Chelsea said he would be out for three months. Čech later said he did not remember the injury itself.

Čech playing for Chelsea in 2007

Čech returned to play on 20 January 2007. This was in a Premier League match against Liverpool. He wore a special rugby style headguard. He wore this headguard for the rest of his career.

After his return, he went about 810 minutes without letting in a goal. On 11 April 2007, Čech won the Premier League Player of the Month award. This was for keeping eight clean sheets in a row. He was the first goalkeeper to win this award since 2000.

Čech also kept a clean sheet in the 2007 FA Cup Final against Manchester United. Chelsea won 1–0 to win the FA Cup.

Champions League and FA Cup Success

Čech training for Chelsea in 2008

Čech signed a new five-year contract in July 2008. This kept him at Chelsea until 2013. Chelsea started the 2008–09 season very well. They let in only 7 goals in 17 games. Čech kept 10 clean sheets in these games.

In November 2008, Chelsea beat Sunderland 5–0. This game was Čech's 100th match for Chelsea without letting in a goal. He also played his 200th game for the club in a 1–0 win over Juventus. Čech helped Chelsea win the 2009 FA Cup Final against Everton. Chelsea won 2–1, giving Čech his seventh trophy with the club.

Čech training for Chelsea in 2010

Winning the Domestic Double

Čech started the 2009–10 season by winning the 2009 FA Community Shield against Manchester United. He saved penalties from Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra. On 13 April, Čech kept his 100th Premier League clean sheet for Chelsea. He won his second Premier League Golden Glove award. He had 17 clean sheets as Chelsea won their third Premier League title. He also saved a penalty in the 2010 FA Cup Final. This helped Chelsea win the Cup and achieve their first domestic double.

More Trophies with Chelsea

Čech playing for Chelsea in 2010

On 7 March 2011, Čech played his 300th game for Chelsea. On 19 May, he was named the Chelsea Player of the Year for the first time.

On 27 February 2012, Čech was named the Czech Footballer of the Year for the fifth time. On 24 March, he played his 250th league game for Chelsea. Čech saved a penalty in extra time in the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final. He also saved two penalties in the penalty shoot-out. This led to Chelsea's first Champions League win. Čech was named the Fans' Man of the Match. He signed a new four-year contract with Chelsea in May.

Čech playing for Chelsea in the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup

In May 2013, Čech won the UEFA Europa League. Chelsea beat Benfica 2–1 in the final.

Final Years at Chelsea

On 19 October 2013, Čech made his 300th Premier League appearance for Chelsea. On 11 January 2014, he kept his 209th clean sheet for Chelsea. This broke the club record set by Peter Bonetti.

On 18 March 2014, Čech played his 100th UEFA Champions League game. He became the fourth goalkeeper to reach 100 appearances in the competition. Čech finished the season as a joint winner of the Premier League Golden Glove award. He had 16 clean sheets.

At the start of the 2014–15 season, Thibaut Courtois became Chelsea's main goalkeeper. Čech still played in some important games. On 1 March 2015, Čech started in the 2015 Football League Cup final. He kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur. This was his third League Cup trophy.

Moving to Arsenal

New Club, More Records

Čech playing for Arsenal at the 2015 Emirates Cup

Čech joined Chelsea's rivals Arsenal on 29 June 2015. He signed a four-year contract. The fee was about £10 million. On 2 August, Čech won his first trophy with Arsenal. They beat his old club Chelsea 1–0 in the 2015 FA Community Shield.

On 28 December 2015, Čech recorded his 170th Premier League clean sheet. This set a new league record, passing David James. At the end of his first season with Arsenal, he was named the Premier League Goalkeeper of the season.

FA Cup Victory and Retirement

On 24 April 2017, Čech played in the 2016–17 FA Cup semi-final. Arsenal won 2–1 against Manchester City. Čech was injured for the 2017 FA Cup Final. But Arsenal still beat Chelsea 2–1. Čech won his fifth FA Cup. Arsenal became the most successful club in the competition's history.

On 11 March 2018, Čech became the first Premier League goalkeeper to reach 200 league clean sheets. He did this after saving a penalty against Watford.

Čech during his final game as a player, the 2019 UEFA Europa League final

On 15 January 2019, Čech announced he would retire at the end of the season. On 29 May, he played his final game. Arsenal lost 4–1 to his former club Chelsea in the 2019 UEFA Europa League final. Many people said he was Arsenal's best player in that match.

International Football Career

Youth Team Success

Čech played for the Czech Republic's youth teams. He played 34 games for the under-15 to under-18 teams. In 2000, he moved up to the under-20 and under-21 teams. He played 22 games for them. Čech became well-known at the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He only let in one penalty in the final's penalty shoot-out. This helped the Czech Republic win their first youth title.

Playing for the Senior Team

Čech playing for the Czech national football team in 2010

Čech made his debut for the senior squad in February 2002. He quickly became the main goalkeeper. He was chosen for UEFA Euro 2004. He was named the best goalkeeper in the tournament's all-star team.

On 8 July 2016, Čech announced he was retiring from international football. He is the player with the most games for the Czech team, with 124 appearances.

Life After Football

Working at Chelsea

In June 2019, Čech returned to his old club Chelsea. He became a technical and performance advisor.

In October 2020, Čech was added to Chelsea's Premier League squad. This was a safety measure because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He played one game for Chelsea's under-23 team.

In June 2022, Čech left Chelsea.

Ice Hockey Career

On 9 October 2019, Čech signed with the ice hockey team Guildford Phoenix. He plays as a goaltender. This team is in the National Ice Hockey League Division 2. He chose to wear jersey number 39 to honor Dominik Hašek. Čech said he would continue his role at Chelsea while playing ice hockey in his free time.

He was named man of the match in his first ice hockey game on 13 October. He stopped two penalty shots in a shoot-out win. After winning three titles with Guildford Phoenix in the 2021–22 season, Čech joined Chelmsford Chieftains in November 2022. In June 2023, he signed with Oxford City Stars.

In November 2023, he joined the Elite Ice Hockey League team Belfast Giants on loan. This was to help them as an emergency player. Čech said he played youth ice hockey as a child. He also said ice hockey was his favorite sport back then. He played one game for the Giants on 25 November.

How Petr Čech Played

Čech diving in an attempt to save Thibaut Courtois's penalty in Arsenal's 4–1 shoot-out victory in the 2017 FA Community Shield, against his former club Chelsea

Petr Čech is known as one of the greatest goalkeepers ever. He was tall, athletic, and very agile. He was also brave and mentally strong. He was great at stopping shots and had excellent reflexes. He knew where to be on the field and was good at organizing his defense. He was also good at catching crosses and commanding his penalty area.

Čech was known for his powerful kicks and long throws. These helped Chelsea start quick counter-attacks. He was also very good at saving penalties. For example, he saved penalties in the 2012 UEFA Champions League final and the 2010 FA Cup final. He looked up to other great goalkeepers like Oliver Kahn, Peter Schmeichel, and Edwin van der Sar.

Personal Life

Čech was born as one of three children (triplets) in Plzeň, Czechoslovakia. His siblings are Šárka and Michal. He has a weaker skull because he was a triplet.

Čech married Martina Dolejšová in June 2003. They have a daughter, Adéla, born in 2008. They also have a son, Damián, born in 2009.

He loves music and plays the drums. He has a YouTube channel where he posts drum covers of songs. He has even played with Roger Taylor from the band Queen. In 2019, they released a song together called That's Football. In 2020, he joined a band called Wills & The Willing as their drummer.

Besides his native Czech, Čech can speak English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Career Statistics

Football

Club

International

Ice hockey

Honours and Awards

Football Achievements

Chelsea

• Premier League: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014–15
• FA Cup: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12
• Football League Cup: 2004–05, 2006–07, 2014–15
• FA Community Shield: 2005, 2009
• UEFA Champions League: 2011–12
• UEFA Europa League: 2012–13

Arsenal

• FA Cup: 2016–17
• FA Community Shield: 2015, 2017

Czech Republic U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2002

Individual Awards

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship Golden Player: 2002
• Best Goalkeeper of French League: 2003–04
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2004
• Premier League Golden Glove: 2004–05, 2009–10, 2013–14, 2015–16
• PFA Team of the Year: 2004–05, 2013–14
• Czech Footballer of the Year: 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
• Golden Ball (Czech Republic): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
• IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper: 2005
• Best European Goalkeeper: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2012
• UEFA Club Football Awards Best Goalkeeper: 2005, 2007, 2008
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2005
• Premier League Player of the Month: March 2007
• Chelsea Player of the Year: 2011
• Premier League Hall of Fame: 2023

Ice Hockey Achievements

Guildford Phoenix

• NIHL Division 2 South Regular Season: 2021–22
• NIHL Division 2 South Playoffs: 2021–22
• NIHL Division 2 South Cup: 2021–22

Individual

• NIHL 2 South Player of the Month: January 2020

Amazing Records

• Most Premier League Golden Glove awards: 4 (shared with Joe Hart)
• Most Premier League clean sheets: 202 clean sheets.
• Most Premier League clean sheets at one club: 162 with Chelsea.
• Most Premier League clean sheets in a season: 24 in 2004–05.
• First Premier League goalkeeper to reach 200 clean sheets.
• First Premier League goalkeeper to go 1000 minutes without letting in a goal.
• Fastest Premier League goalkeeper to reach 50 clean sheets: 82 games.
• Fastest Premier League goalkeeper to reach 100 clean sheets: 180 games.
• Only goalkeeper to win the Premier League Golden Glove with different clubs.
• Most games for Czech Republic national football team: 124 games.
• Most Czech Footballer of the Year wins: 9 wins.
• Most Czech Republic Golden Ball wins: 11 wins.
• Most Champions League games by a Czech player: 111 games.
• Most Premier League games for Chelsea by a foreign player: 333 games.
• Most wins for Chelsea in the Premier League by a foreign player: 219 wins.
• Most games for Chelsea by a foreign player: 494 games.
• Most penalty saves for Chelsea by a foreign player: 8 penalty saves.
• Most starts for Chelsea in a season: 63 starts in 2012–13.
• Most major cup final appearances for Chelsea: 14 (shared with Frank Lampard).
• Most clean sheets for Chelsea: 227.
• Most clean sheets in a season for Chelsea: 28 clean sheets in 2004–05.

Images for kids

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  Čech before Chelsea's first game of the 2008–09 season against Portsmouth

See also

• List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances
• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps