To say Petr Cech has etched himself into Premier League history is a massive understatement.
Former Czech Republic national team’s number one goalkeeper managed to collect a mammoth figure of 207 clean sheets during his 15 seasons in English football, 35 more than David James in second place.
His performances had even the greats of football regretful.
In “My Autobiography,” published in October 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson states the two biggest regrets of his 27-year stint at Manchester United were letting go of Jaap Stam and opting not to sign a young goalkeeper from Rennes by the name of Petr Cech, judging him as too raw for the Premier League.
Jose Mourinho and Peter Kenyon capitalised, and Cech became a Blue in the summer of 2004, staying in West London until the end of the 2014-2015 season.
Born in Pilsen, 42 years ago, the former Chelsea and Arsenal goalie is notable for a wide range of attributes.
These features are not merely isolated in his professional scope of achievements but stretch to his excellent human virtues as well, making him one of the most likeable personalities to have ever been involved in the beautiful game.
Playing the drum, being passionate about ice hockey, speaking 6 foreign languages, and possessing a master’s degree in business administration represent only a handful of Cech’s long list of impressive talents.
In addition, his return between the sticks as quickly as 3 months after the horror head injury he suffered away at Reading in 2006, alongside his subsequent stellar career post that critical moment, constructs a breathtaking story of inspiration.
In honour of this multi-dimensional personality, I have chosen to create a ranking of my favourite saves of his time at Chelsea, on the criteria of aesthetics and cruciality.
5: Putting Steven Gerrard’s Strike Over the Crossbar, Against Liverpool Away in the Champions League Semi-Final, 2007-2008 Season
Unfortunately, this masterpiece ranks the relative lowest due to not being rewarded with an eventual win in the competition, but the execution was nothing short of spectacular.
Liverpool’s captain managed to bounce the ball past Claude Makélélé and unleashed a volleyed strike full of venom towards Cech’s top left corner.
However, the talisman in Chelsea’s goal pulled off a miraculous piece of goalkeeping, sending the ball over with his left palm.
4: Saving a Close-Range Chicharito Header Against Manchester United in the FA Cup Quarter-Final Replay, 2012-2013 Season
If I had to strictly choose a save that shows Cech’s outrageous reflexes and instinctive brilliance best, it has to be this one.
The more you watch it back, the more amazed you feel.
A first-time, sharp-as-a-knife Antonio Valencia cross was impossible to deal with, flying towards Chelsea’s far post.
Despite being initially positioned in the opposite corner of his goal, Big Pete reacted as fast as the human mind can both theoretically and practically comprehend.
Javier Hernandez’s header had the right amount of pace, power, and direction to end up in the back of the net, but not as far as Cech was concerned.
He managed to tip it over the bar excellently, and Chelsea ran away victorious, securing a trip to Wembley, thanks to Demba Ba’s goal.
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3: Andy Carroll’s Headed Effort Pushed to the Underside of the Bar, then Going Out, Chelsea vs. Liverpool, FA Cup Final, 2011-2012 Season
For the naked eye, the referee’s included, as goal-line technology was not around back then, it could have looked destined to go in and be the equaliser of a highly contested showpiece of the world’s oldest footballing competition.
But Cech had other ideas.
Glen Johnson surged into the box, and laid it off to Luis Suárez, who had all the time and space to produce an inch-perfect delivery for his target man fellow striker, Andy Carroll.
Let bizarrely free to showcase his aerial dominance, he managed to head the ball with the right connection and start to celebrate, but Cech’s right palm extraordinarily became the halting mechanism.
The ball was somehow pushed to the underside of the bar and did not go over the line, and Branislav Ivanovic was there to clear it away.
Chelsea managed to hold on and win the final 2-1, courtesy of Ramires and Didier Drogba scoring in each half.
2: Former Teammate Successfully Prevented from Glory; Saving Arjen Robben’s Penalty in the Champions League Final, 2011-2012 Season
Over a decade after that unforgettable final, Petr Cech revealed he had studied over eight hours of footage showing every penalty each of Bayern’s players had taken since 2007.
The outcome could not have been more fruitful. He correctly guessed right all six of the penalties he faced that memorable night, managing to save three of them.
However, it was quite likely the other five would have never taken place had Arjen Robben made no mistake from the spot in extra time.
The Dutch winger stepped forward to take a penalty committed by Didier Drogba, who fouled Franck Ribery inside the box.
Cech made sure it did not cost anything, though, as he triumphed in the “wit-pitting” tense battle against his former teammate.
The Czech goalkeeper guessed right, diving to his left and catching the ball two times. In fact, it would only be the prelude of what was to come…
1: In Martin Tyler’s Words, “Chelsea Have Found the Holy Grail.” Cech Says to Schweinsteiger, “You Shall Not Pass.”
As a boiling encounter somehow ended all square (1-1), with Bayern collecting 3.17 xG compared to Chelsea’s 0.60, the roulette of penalties was required to decide the winner.
Chelsea won the shootout by four goals to three. Big Pete first saved from Ivica Olić, paving the way for Ashley Cole to level the score, and then the drama reached its peak.
Bastian Schweinsteiger was ready to take his side’s fifth kick. He stopped midway through his run, but Cech did not lean and pushed the ball with his fingertips towards the post. Drogba then scored to clinch the big-eared trophy for his club for the first time in history.
Cech’s performance that night was so superhuman that UEFA did not hesitate to conduct a doping test, and he was chosen as one of the participants.
The result was certainly negative and he was duly given the Man of the Match award.
Conclusion
“If Big Pete’s happy, I’m happy,” read a banner frequently hoisted at Stamford Bridge.
That is the perfect manner to encapsulate what a uniquely popular figure he was, is, and will be among Chelsea’s faithful.
Cech’s exemplary standards of integrity, dignity, professionalism, and work ethic make him one of the benchmarks of a noble human being.
He won 18 trophies during his illustrious and celebrated career, 15 with Chelsea and 3 with Arsenal.
The ever-present air of positivity he transmitted was another reason for his return to the Blues in June of 2019 as a technical and performance advisor, a capacity he covered for three years, enhancing his rock-solid legacy in West London.