Monday, 28 May 2012

Petr Čech


Petr Čech
Petr Čech 4486.jpg
Čech training with Chelsea
Personal information
Full name
Petr Čech[1]
Date of birth
20 May 1982 (age 30)
Place of birth
Height
1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)[2]
Playing position
Club information
Current club
Number
1
Youth career
1989–1999
Senior career*
Years
Team
Apps†
(Gls)†
1999–2001
27
(0)
2001–2002
27
(0)
2002–2004
70
(0)
2004–
256
(0)
National team‡
2001–2002
15
(0)
2002–
89
(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:21, 16 May 2012 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 5 May 
2012

Petr Čech

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Petr Čech (Czech pronunciation: [ˈpɛtr̩ ˈtʃɛx] ( listen)) (born 20 May 1982) is a Czech footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Czech Republic as a goalkeeper. Čech previously played for Chmel Blšany, Sparta Prague, and Rennes. He was voted into the all-star team of Euro 2004 after helping his country reach the semi-finals.[3] Čech also received the individual award of Best Goalkeeper in the 2004–05, 2006–07 and 2007–08seasons of the UEFA Champions League. In addition, he was named in the FIFPro and UEFA Champions League teams of the season in 2006.
He currently holds the Premier League record for fewest appearances required to reach 100 clean sheets, having done so in 180 league appearances. He also holds a Czech professional league record of not conceding a goal in 903 competitive minutes. He also has a club record at his former team Sparta Prague, having gone 928 minutes unbeaten in all competitions in 2001–02, when his unbeaten run in Czech league competition was combined with his performances in the UEFA Champions League. 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 also won the Golden Glove in both the 2004–05 and 2009–10 seasons.[4]

Contents

  [hide] 

[edit]Club career

[edit]Early career

Born in Plzeň, Czechoslovakia, Čech started playing football at age seven for Škoda Plzeň (later known as FC Viktoria Plzeň). In his early days, he played as a striker, although he later moved to the goalkeeper position.[5] Čech joined Gambrinus liga team FK Chmel Blšany in June 1999[6] and made his league debut at the age of 17 in October 1999, in a 3–1 loss against Sparta.[5][6]
Čech signed for Sparta Prague at the age of 18 in January 2001, although he remained at Blšany until the end of the 2000–01 season. His new contract tied him to Sparta until June 2006.[7]
In November 2001, Čech broke the record formerly held by Theodor Reimann for the longest time elapsed without conceding a goal in the Czech professional league, stretching his run to 855 minutes.[8] His clean sheet record finally ended when he was beaten by a goal fromMarcel Melecký of Bohemians on 17 November 2001, ending his record at 903 consecutive minutes without conceding.[9]

[edit]Rennes

Čech did not win the league title in the spring of 2002 with Sparta Prague, but he did experience success elsewhere. At the under-21 European Championships in June, Čech led the Czechs to the final. Here, the Plzeň native excelled. He let in only one of the penalty kicks as his team won the tournament. The hero of the final match of the tournament could not escape the attention of the scouts of foreign clubs. Interest from England (e.g. Arsenal) was spoken about a lot, however, the deal fell through based on the issue of the work permit. In July 2002, Čech moved to French club Stade Rennes, signing a four-year contract for a transfer fee reported as 150 million CZK.[10]
In his two seasons in France, Čech became accustomed to the pressure exerted on foreign players, especially goalkeepers. During his first season in France, he was awarded man of the matchagainst Paris Saint-Germain by L'Équipe.[11] In May 2003, Rennes were stuck at the bottom of the table and needed a win in the last game on the season to ensure survival.[11] Rennes escaped relegation in the last round with a win over Montpellier.[12]

[edit]Chelsea

Čech had a trial with Chelsea in 2003. It was Claudio Ranieri, then manager of Chelsea, who decided that Čech was his choice as understudy to Carlo Cudicini.[13] After the original bid was rejected,[14] Rennes accepted a second in February. Čech agreed a summer move to Chelsea for £7 million, signing a five-year contract, to commence in July 2004.[15] This transfer meant that he became the most expensive Chelsea goalkeeper in history.[16] Čech’s transfer from Rennes was one of those about which the Stevens inquiry report in June 2007 expressed concerns because of the lack of co-operation from agents Pini Zahavi and Barry Silkman.[17]

[edit]2004–05 season

When Čech arrived at Chelsea, Carlo Cudicini was established as Chelsea's first choice goalkeeper. However, Cudicini suffered a pre-season elbow injury that allowed Mourinho to promote Čech into the starting spot. Čech became the first-choice goalkeeper in his first season. He kept a clean sheet in his Premier League debut in a 1–0 victory over Manchester United.
On 5 March 2005, Čech set a new Premier League record of 1,025 minutes without letting in a goal. This record has since been broken by Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar. He finally conceded to Leon McKenzie of Norwich City, after keeping a clean sheet in the league since 12 December 2004 when Thierry Henry scored for Arsenal.[16] Čech was given a special award by the Premier League for the new record, and he was also awarded the Golden Glove at the end of the 2004–05 season for keeping a record 21 clean sheets in the Premier League.[18] The team, having conceded only 15 league goals in the entire season, also set a new record.

[edit]2005–06 season


Čech and Arjen Robben celebrate their second Premier League title in 2006.
Chelsea retained the Premier League title in the 2005–06 season, with Čech playing in 34 league matches. Chelsea conceded just 22 times during the League season.[19] In January 2006, he was named the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper for 2005.[20]
Čech signed a two-year contract extension in February 2006, keeping him at the club until 2010.[21] Čech finished the month of February by being named the Czech Footballer of the Year for the first time.[22]

[edit]2006–07 season

Čech underwent minor shoulder surgery on 27 June 2006 to repair a long-standing injury stemming from the previous season.[23] Čech returned to action on 27 August 2006.[24]

[edit]Head injury

On 14 October 2006, Čech and Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt both challenged for the ball inside Chelsea's penalty area within the first minute of a league match at the Madejski Stadium. Hunt's right knee hit Čech's head, leaving the keeper requiring treatment.[25] Čech was taken off after several minutes and replaced by Carlo Cudicini, who himself was knocked unconscious later in the same game. Captain John Terry ended up going in goal for the remaining minutes.[25] Čech underwent surgery for a depressed skull fracture.[26] Initially unaware of the seriousness of the injury, the doctors later reported that it nearly cost Čech his life,[27] and as a result of the collision, he suffered intense headaches and was warned by his doctor that returning too early could be fatal.[28] Speaking shortly afterwards, Čech’s father claimed his son would be out of football for a year.[29]
Chelsea manager José Mourinho blamed Hunt for Čech's injury, saying:
"The challenge was a disgrace. He is lucky to still be alive."[30]
He also criticised the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust[31] and match referee Mike Riley.[32] A number of commentators, including current and former goalkeepers, saw the incident as highlighting the need for greater protection for keepers.[33][34]
Following hospital treatment, Čech returned home on 24 October 2006 and in the following week he came back to a period of light training. However, Chelsea 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.[35] In an interview on Chelsea TV, Čech said that he had no memory of the injury itself.

[edit]Return

Čech made his comeback in a Premier League match against Liverpool on 20 January 2007, which Chelsea eventually lost 2–0, wearing a rugby style headguard.[36] The headguard was made byCanterbury of New Zealand, a company that specializes in protective rugby gear, and includes extra plastic polymer foam protection to cover the areas of his skull weakened by the collision. Čech’s use of the scrum cap caused initial friction with Czech national team sponsors Puma objected to the presence of the Canterbury logo, as well as Chelsea’s apparel manufacturer Adidas, which were not pleased by a Chelsea player apparently advertising for another company. A solution was reached when Adidas developed their own headgear for Čech to wear in club matches, while the player went on to wear an unbranded cap for national team games.[37]
Since the injury, Čech has continued to wear the scrum cap owing to the weaker than normal bone structure in his skull.[38]
Although Chelsea lost Čech's comeback match 2–0, he then went approximately 810 minutes of Premier League play without conceding a goal. On 11 April 2007, Čech was awarded the Premier League Player of the Month award for the first time in his career in recognition of the eight successive league clean sheets he had kept. He also was the first goalkeeper to receive the award sinceTim Flowers in 2000.[39] This run was ended during a 4–1 Chelsea victory over West Ham United on 18 April 2007 when Carlos Tévez scored against him.
Čech also kept a clean sheet for Chelsea in the 2007 FA Cup Final against Manchester United. He and United’s Edwin van der Sar shared the honour of being the first goalkeepers to keep a clean sheet over 90 minutes in a competitive fixture, but Čech became the first goalkeeper to end a competitive game unbeaten, at the new Wembley Stadium, as Chelsea beat United 1–0 to win the FA Cup.[40]

[edit]2007–08 season

Čech started the 2007–08 season conceding two goals against Birmingham City in the first match of the season. Despite this, Chelsea managed to win 3–2 and set an English record for their 64th consecutive unbeaten league match at home.[41]
In November 2007, Čech suffered an injury to his right calf muscle in the 0–0 Champions League Match at Schalke 04.[42] The following month, on 23 December 2007, he had to be replaced during a match against Blackburn Rovers, due to a hip injury.[43]
Chelsea suffered their first major blow when they lost the Carling Cup Final to Tottenham Hotspur, with Čech parrying the ball onto Jonathan Woodgate’s head for the winner.[44] He played in several games until the eve of Chelsea’s home Champions League tie with Greek champions Olympiacos when he injured his ankle in training.[45][46] In the weeks that followed, Čech missed key games of Chelsea’s campaign including the derby with Arsenal and both legs of the Champions League quarter-final.
On 7 April 2008 it was announced that Čech had undergone emergency surgery on his chin and lips following an accidental collision with Tal Ben Haim during training.[47][48] He had 50 stitches put on his mouth and chin, having missed 22 games this season due to injuries, Čech said he hoped to get back on the field within a few weeks.[49] He returned to action on 14 April, in a home match against Wigan, which Chelsea drew 1–1. He appeared in the Champions League Final against Manchester United, where Chelsea lost on penalties.

[edit]2008–09 season


Čech training with Chelsea
Čech signed a new five-year contract in July 2008, to keep him at Chelsea until 2013.[18] Chelsea started the 2008–09 season in good form, conceding only seven goals in 17 games and keeping 11 clean sheets, ten of which with Čech in goal.
In November 2008, Chelsea beat Sunderland 5–0 at Stamford Bridge, a result that gave Čech a century of Chelsea clean sheets.[50] Čech kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory over Juventus in the Champions League on his 200th appearance for the club, and he also starred in a 1–0 away victory at Villa Parkagainst Aston Villa, saving from Gabriel Agbonlahor and Gareth Barry. The following week, Čech helped Chelsea go second in the table after his side beatWigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge 2–1, with Čech saving from Paul Scharner in the first half. Successive clean sheets by Čech in Chelsea's wins againstPortsmouth and Coventry City saw his side consolidate their position in the Premier League whilst progressing into the FA Cup semi-finals. Čech also made saves from Dirk Kuyt and Xabi Alonso as Chelsea beat Liverpool 3–1 at Anfield in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-finals.
In a crucial Premier League game in April 2009, with Chelsea comfortably leading 4–0 against Bolton Wanderers, manager Guus Hiddink took off bothDidier Drogba and Frank Lampard only for Bolton to score three late goals which questioned the Chelsea defence, and in particular Čech. However Čech responded when he saved a penalty from Mark Noble in Chelsea's 1–0 win at the Boleyn Ground against West Ham. He also kept a clean sheet in the next game against Barcelona during the Champions League semifinal first leg match. Following a 3–2 win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, Čech and Chelsea finished the season with the joint-tightest defence in the Premier League along with Manchester United, having conceded just 24 goals over the course of the season.[51] Despite conceding the fastest goal in FA Cup Final history, Čech helped Chelsea's 2009 FA Cup Final triumph over Everton. Chelsea won 2–1, earning the Czech his seventh trophy at the club.[52]
Former coach Luiz Felipe Scolari accused Čech, Michael Ballack and Drogba of causing his sacking, saying that they "did not accept my training methods or my demands". Scolari also claimed that it stemmed from a row between him and the Czech goalkeeper over the latter's alleged insistence on being given a personal coach. Čech denied the claims saying that he was "disappointed with [Scolari] because never in my life have I had a personal goalkeeping coach".[53]

[edit]2009–10 season


Čech in 2010
Čech began the 09–10 season in winning form with Chelsea, beating Manchester United in the Community Shield final at Wembley. With the game level at 2–2 at the end of normal time, Čech saved penalties from Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra.[54] Čech kept goal for Chelsea in the six match winning run that opened their season and placed them on top of the Premier League. However, on 26 September 2009, Čech was sent off and at the same time conceded the winning penalty for tripping Wigan Athletic forward Hugo Rodallega, in the defeat that broke the run and conceded the lead in the league to Manchester United.[55] On 27 February 2010, Čech picked up an injury to a calf muscle in the Champions League clash against Inter.[56] On 13 April against Bolton, Čech kept his 100th Premier League clean sheet for Chelsea.[57] He won his second Golden Glove award for the season, having kept 17 clean sheets in the Premier League.[58] He concluded his season by saving a penalty against Portsmouth in the FA Cup final, ensuring that the Blues went on to retain the Cup and achieve their first domestic double.

[edit]2010–11 season


Čech in season 2010/2011
Čech suffered a calf injury in Chelsea's pre-season, a recurrence of an injury suffered against Inter Milan the previous season.[42] A spokesman for Chelsea confirmed: "Petr will be out for around a month after scans showed a tear in his right calf. He is expected to miss the rest of the pre-season campaign." Čech subsequently missed the following three weeks, including Chelsea's 3–1 loss to Manchester United in the Community Shield. He returned on 14 August and kept a clean sheet as Chelsea beat West Bromwich Albion 6–0. Čech then kept another clean sheet in a 2–0 win over Arsenal,[59]before keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw at Villa Park.[60] On 7 March Čech made his 300th Chelsea appearance against Premier League side Blackpool which Chelsea went on to win 3–1. On 19 May Čech was awarded the Chelsea F.C. Player of the Year for the first time. More than 28,000 fans voted for the award, which was handed over by manager Carlo Ancelotti.

[edit]2011–12 season

Čech started the opening game of Chelsea's 2011–12 season away to Stoke City, which ended 0–0. On 18 August 2011 Čech was ruled out for up to four weeks after he sustained a knee injury in training.[61] He made his return 3 weeks later against Sunderland in which Chelsea won 2–1. He kept a clean sheet in Chelsea's first Champions League match of the season in a 2–0 win over Bayer Leverkusen. On 27 February Čech was announced as the Czech Footballer of the Year for 2011, winning the award for the fifth time.[62] On 24 March, Cech played his 250th league game for Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur in a 0–0 draw at Stamford Bridge.[63] Cech lucky to escape a red card against Spurs at Wembley in the FA Cup Semi-Final which Chelsea won 5–1. Cech then 3 days later kept a clean sheet against Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League Semi-Final, making some fine saves to deny Barca their away goal. A week later Čech played an instrumental role in Chelsea's 2–2 draw at the Camp Nou, where Chelsea defended with 10 men for much of the game. Cech saved a penalty in extra time, and two penalties in the subsequent penalty shootout, of the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich resulting in the first UEFA Champions League win for Chelsea.

[edit]International career

Čech began his career in the U16s, working his way up each age group level before making his senior debut for the Czech Republic in February 2002. He first came to prominence as a twenty-year-old at the 2002 U-21 European Championships when his penalty shoot-out heroics in the final against France earned the Czech Republic their first title at youth level.[64] He was part of the Czech Euro 2004 team. Some stunning saves helped his team progress as far as the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual winners Greece on the silver goal rule. He was named in the all-star team as best goalkeeper at the tournament.[65]
The Czech Republic qualified for the 2006 World Cup, held in Germany, and were placed in Group E, alongside Ghana, Italy and the United States. The Czech Republic finished third in their group, following a 3–0 win against the United States, and two losses against Ghana and Italy, the score 2–0 in both games, thus not qualifying for the knock-out stages of the tournament.
On 17 October 2007, Čech was captain of the Czech Republic team for their Euro 2008 Group D qualifier against Germany. He kept a clean sheet and the Czechs defeated Germany 3–0 away to book their place for the finals in Austria and Switzerland. In the last group game of the final tournament, Čech was beaten three times in the final 15 minutes as Turkey overcame a two-goal deficit to knock the Czechs out. Čech had a cross slip through his hands, allowing Nihat to score the second (and equalizing) goal.[66]
On 14 May 2012, Čech was announced as one of the four Czech goalkeeper who will be playing for the Czech Republic team in Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

[edit]Personal life

Čech has two sisters, Marketa who is older, and Sarka who is the same age.[67] He was born a triplet along with Sarka and a brother named Michal who died aged two after contracting an infection in hospital.[38]
Čech married Martina Dolejšová (now Čechová) (b. 1982), also of Czech nationality, in June 2003.[68] They have a daughter Adéla (b. 23 January 2008)[68] and a son Damián (b. June 2009),[69]both born in the Czech Republic.

[edit]Career statistics

[edit]Club appearances

Club performanceLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalTotal
SeasonClubLeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Czech RepublicLeagueCzech Republic CupLeague CupEuropeTotal
1999–2000Blšany1. Liga10??–0010
2000–01260??–00260
Blšany Total270??–00270
2001–02Sparta Prague1. Liga270??–120390
Sparta Prague Total270??–120390
FranceLeagueCoupe de FranceCoupe de la LigueEuropeTotal
2002–03RennesLigue 1370????00370
2003–04330????00330
Rennes Total700????00700
EnglandLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeTotal
2004–05ChelseaPremier League3500020110480
2005–06340000070410
2006–07200602080360
2007–08260103090390
2008–093506010120540
2009–10340200060420
2010–11380300090500
2011–123206020120520
Chelsea total25402401007403620
Career total37802401008604980
As of 05:00, 27 April 2012.[70][71]
Not including appearances in the 2005/06, 2007/08, 2009/10 Community Shield.

[edit]International career statistics

Czech Republic national team
YearAppsGoals
200270
200380
2004130
2005100
2006100
200780
200890
200970
201060
2011100
Total880

[edit]Honours

Chelsea
International
Individual

[edit]

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