The new life of the myth Petr Cech: from winning the Champions League to succeeding as a hockey goalkeeper

Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt o Muhammad Ali They have something in common: not only did they come to dominate the sport they practiced but, upon retiring, they also tried to shine in other disciplines without success. It is not easy for an elite athlete to be a world reference and, after trying his luck in other sportsshine again at the same previous level. But there is an athlete who is on his way to achieving it and, for now, his numbers are scary: Petr Cech.

The Czech is a legend in goal. In fact, if we talk about goalkeepers who have marked an era in football, the world cup in recent years, Cech’s name is one of those that always appears in the pools. Furthermore, he has the honor of being the first goalkeeper in football history to reach 1,000 saves -at least, the first since statistics exist- and being the fifth of all time to play the most games.

After his great numbers in Bisani, Sparta de Praga y Rennais Stadiumhe Chelsea He did not hesitate to take over their services. Cech became a legend, one of the most recognizable players of the project Roman Abramovich and in one of the great figures of that team what won his first Champions League in 2012. He won 15 titles with the bluesalthough his most iconic image is that of his headband that accompanied him for a good part of his career.

It was October 2006, in a match that pitted Chelsea against Reading. In a divided ball, Steven Hunt accidentally hit Cech’s head on his way out for the ball. That impact would cause a collapse in the skull of the Czech and, after undergoing surgery and being out for several months, that most typical rugby helmet accompanied him throughout his career. Become a Chelsea legend, In 2015 he would sign for Arsenalwhere he played four years before his retirement.

A year after hanging up his gloves, Cech decided to try a new experience: play ice hockey. Since he was a child, this very traditional sport in the Czech Republic was one of his great hobbies, but he stopped practicing it when he saw that he could be a professional in soccer. Therefore, he did not hesitate to try the Guildford Phoenix of the NIHL 2 South West Division, the British fourth category: in its debut, He stopped two penalties and made 97% of his stops. Almost nothing.

Since that moment, he has only grown in ice hockey. His enormous performances at Guildford allowed him to sign for the Chelmsford ChieftainThird Division. There he achieved his first MVP, making 62 stops of 64 pitches. and causing a good part of the clubs to begin to set their eyes on him. So much so that, one year later, he signed for Oxford City Stars, Second. The data did not lie: he had not dropped below 90% success rate in saves since his debut.

This fact has caused the news to arrive a few days ago: The Belfast Giants needed a goalkeeper and did not hesitate to ask for the loan of Petr Cech. Thus, in just five seasons, the Czech goalkeeper has reached the First Division of ice hockey in the United Kingdom, with one of the best save percentages and showing a really high level. Cech has a second life in sport and you want to continue enjoying it as long as your body lasts.

Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt o Muhammad Ali They have something in common: not only did they come to dominate the sport they practiced but, upon retiring, they also tried to shine in other disciplines without success. It is not easy for an elite athlete to be a world reference and, after trying his luck in other sportsshine again at the same previous level. But there is an athlete who is on his way to achieving it and, for now, his numbers are scary: Petr Cech.