There are ex-footballers who retire to a variety of business ventures and there are others who try their hand at different sports. A vivid example is Gareth Bale, who has recently shown off his aptitude in yet another sport, and there is Petr Cech, who is now a professional hockey player.
Petr Cech had a storied career in the Premier League. He would proudly stand in the Premier League goalkeepers hall of fame, considering his illustrious achievements with Chelsea and Arsenal.
Petr Cech makes his Ice Hockey debut
Chelsea legend Petr Cech marked his debut for the Elite League ice hockey team Belfast Giants with a notable 5-1 victory over Glasgow Clan. Coach Adam Keefe introduced the former Blues goalkeeper into the game with just 4 minutes and 43 seconds left on the clock, as the defending treble winners had already secured a commanding 5-1 lead.
In front of a vibrant crowd of 6,000 fans, a chant of ‘We Want Cech’ echoed through the arena, and coach Adam Keefe responded to the enthusiastic crowd by allowing the Champions League winner to step onto the ice, eliciting loud cheers from the audience.
Cech is currently on loan at Belfast Giants from Oxford City Stars, a team competing in the National Ice Hockey League, a tier below the Elite League. As a netminder, a role equivalent to a goalkeeper in football, he has previously played for Guildford Phoenix and Chelmsford Chieftains.
Chelsea legend’s storied PL career
According to The Chelsea Chronicle, Petr Cech is one of Chelsea’s top 10 legends, alongside the likes of Frank Lampard, Eden Hazard, Didier Drogba and John Terry.
Petr Cech recorded 494 appearances for Chelsea before later moving to Arsenal. He spent 11 seasons at Chelsea before leaving for Arsenal in 2015.
During his illustrious 11-year tenure at Chelsea, Cech played a pivotal role in the club’s success, securing every possible title. His achievements include four Premier League titles, a Champions League, and Europa League triumph, along with four FA Cups and three EFL Cup titles. Notably, Cech recorded an impressive 202 clean sheets in the Premier League.
At Arsenal, Petr Cech continued his trophy-winning record when Arsenal clinched the FA Cup title in 2017. He also went on to win the English Super Cup both in 2016 and 2018.
There’s no doubt in our minds that he’ll make an incredible hockey player, but what do you think? Make sure to tell us in the comments.
