Cech Petr
Petr Čech is a Czech professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He is the former captain for the Czech Republic national team. Čech has previously played for Chmel Blšany, Sparta Prague, Rennes and Chelsea. He is the most capped player in the history of the Czech national team with 124 caps, and represented the country at the 2006 World Cup, as well as the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 European Championships. He was voted into the Euro 2004 all-star team after helping the Czechs reach the semi-finals. Čech also received the individual award of Best Goalkeeper in the 2004–05, 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons of the UEFA Champions League. In addition, he was named in the FIFPro and UEFA Champions League team of the season in 2006. He is considered to be one of the greatest and most respected goalkeepers of his generation. Čech joined Chelsea in 2004 and made 486 official appearances for the club, making him the clubs highest overseas appearance maker and sixth in its all-time appearances list. With Chelsea, Čech won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, one UEFA Europa League and one UEFA Champions League. Čech kept a club record 220 clean sheets for Chelsea in all competitions.
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Since his emergence as a precocious talent in his youth, Čech has been considered to be one of the greatest and most respected goalkeepers of his generation. A tall and athletic keeper, with a strong mentality, throughout his career he has stood out for his reflexes and shot-stopping abilities, as well as his positional sense, handling, and command of his area. Čech holds a number of goalkeeping records, including the Premier League record for fewest appearances required to reach 100 clean sheets, having done so in 180 league appearances, joint most number of clean sheets in a season (21), as well as the record for the most clean sheets in Premier League history. At the end of the 2016–17 season, the record stood at 190. During the 2004–05 season, Čech went 1,025 minutes without conceding a goal – a Premier League record, until it was surpassed by Edwin van der Sar of Manchester United on 27 January 2009. Čech is the only goalkeeper to have won the Golden Glove with two separate clubs, winning it a joint record four times; in 2004–05, 2009–10, 2013–14 and the 2015–16. Additionally he holds a Czech professional league record of not conceding a goal in 903 competitive minutes, a club record at his former club Sparta Prague, having gone 928 minutes unbeaten in all competitions in 2001–02, when his unbeaten run in the Czech First League was combined with his performances in the Champions League. On top of this he holds the record for the number of Czech Footballer of the Year and Czech Golden Ball wins.
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Čech sustained a head injury in the match against Reading at the Madejski Stadium on 14 October 2006 when he collided with Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt inside Chelsea’s penalty area within the first minute of a Premier League match. Hunt’s right knee hit Čech’s head, leaving the goalkeeper requiring treatment. Čech was taken off after several minutes and replaced by Carlo Cudicini, who himself was knocked unconscious later in the same game, forcing Chelsea captain John Terry to play goal for the match’s remaining minutes. Čech underwent surgery for a depressed skull fracture. Initially unaware of the seriousness of the injury, the doctors later reported that it nearly cost Čech his life, and as a result of the collision, he suffered intense headaches. Chelsea manager José Mourinho blamed Hunt for Čech’s injury, saying that his challenge was “a disgrace”. He also criticized the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust and match referee Mike Riley. A number of commentators, including current and former goalkeepers, saw the incident as highlighting the need for greater protection for goalkeepers. Čech was able to return home on 24 October 2006 and participated in light training the following week. Chelsea, however, announced that the goalkeeper would be out for three months, in line with medical advice on the time needed for complete recovery from the skull fracture. In an interview, Čech said that he had no memory of the injury itself. Since then Cech wears protective headgear, similar to the one used by rugby players, while he plays. He has recently revealed his desire to play without this helmet but has been forbidden to do so by medical professionals.
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Peter Cech is also a keen musician and plays the drums. He has posted also several drum tutorials on YouTube, as well as songs by Coldplay and Foo Fighters. Čech has also played a jam session with Roger Taylor from the Queen. Watch beside the Peter Cech and Roger Taylor duo.