Since childhood, Petr Cech dreamed of trying his hand at hockey. If it were not for the expensive form that his parents simply could not afford at one time, the Czech athlete might now be considered not the legend of the English Premier League, but of the American NHL.

By the end of his career, the goalkeeper had decided for his family the issue of finances for a long time, and now nothing kept him from moving on to a new business. The football player eventually made it to the ice arena, but hardly anyone believed that the Czech could achieve something at his age …

The Chelsea hero was greatly underestimated!

The debut was a success

Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech has had many personal and team awards in his long career. In May 2019, at the Baku Olympic Stadium in the final match of the Europa League, the football path of the legend ended. The Arsenal goalkeeper changed his uniform to a business suit, becoming the technical director of Chelsea.

Having ceased to be a football player, Peter still remained a goalkeeper. In October 2019, the 37-year-old Cech decided to try his hand at being a hockey goalie. Of course, not in the Czech Republic, where the level of hockey is quite high, but in England. The club of the English National Hockey League “Guilford Phoenix” took the risk of strengthening the roster with a legend from another game discipline.

Petr Cech / Photo: © NurPhoto / Contributor / NurPhoto / Gettyimages.ru

It is not entirely true to say that the Czech football player was completely unfamiliar with hockey. He played it as a child and even tried to get into the section, although his parents could not pull the purchase of expensive ammunition. In 2017, Petr managed to play in the farewell match of the Czech hockey player Martin Gavlat, where real masters also turned out to be on the ice – Jaromir Jagr, Patrik Eliash, Marian Hossa. Yes, and together with the Guildford Flames, whose farm club is Phoenix, the athlete has periodically trained since 2004.

It was possible to play in the official match only in 2019. The debut, by the way, was a success – the “lights” pulled out a victory from a strong rival, the Sweedon Wildcats. In regular time, the newly-minted hockey player missed only two goals, and in the shootout he helped his team snatch victory.

It was not necessary to count on the fact that Peter would now regularly play in all matches as part of Phoenix, which played in the fourth division of England. The newcomer immediately set the accents, stating that his passion for hockey would not interfere with administrative work at Chelsea. In his debut season, the former footballer took to the ice six times. At the same time, he showed a decent statistics of repulsed shots in 93.4%, and in two matches he played to zero.

New challenge

Life after football was not limited to hockey for the ex-goalkeeper. He comprehended the basics of jurisprudence, realized himself in music by purchasing a drum kit. The new drummer even once played at a concert as part of the Czech rock band Eddie Stoilow, and in the meantime recorded a song together with his colleague from Queen Roger Taylor.

However, difficult times forced Peter to take up the old again. In October 2020, as the coronavirus raged across the planet, the former goalkeeper ended up on Chelsea’s squad for the season. The club’s management seriously allowed a situation in which the veteran would again have to stand at the gate. He himself did not object to such a scenario.

I am 100% ready to help if needed. I am in good shape, after two months of training, I saw that I retained my qualities. In addition, I took a year off without playing football. It really gave me energy, my body recovered after 20 years of playing at a professional level. If circumstances force me to enter the field, I am ready, – Telefoot quoted Cech as saying.

Petr Cech / Photo: © Justin Setterfield / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

In December 2020, the 38-year-old football player really entered the field, but not in the Premier League match, but in the game of youth teams. As part of Chelsea U23, the legendary goalkeeper conceded two quick goals from the Tottenham youth team, but in the end the team managed to rectify the situation. The meeting ended with the victory of the “blue” with a score of 3:2.

The Czech did not have to play for the basis of Chelsea, and in 2022 he completely left the club along with former owner Roman Abramovich. Since no obligations to football teams fettered him anymore, Cech again decided to return to his favorite game from childhood. Having signed a contract with the Chelmsford club, the goalkeeper is now preparing to make his debut at a new level for himself – in the third division of England.

– Glad for a new challenge. I look forward to helping the team achieve their goals for the season, – quotes the words of the 40-year-old athlete, the press service of the English team.

Cech’s progress so far looks moderate – in three years he managed to move from the fourth league to the third, and not in the most successful country in hockey. However, as the experience of stellar compatriot Dominik Hasek shows, the athlete has six more years to spare. Of course, he is unlikely to get to the Czech hockey team, but why not set the task of getting into the main league of England?