LONDON (REUTERS) - Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech announced on Tuesday (Jan 15) his retirement at the end of the English Premier League season after 20 years as a professional and winning everything in club football.
One of the world's great goalkeepers, the 36-year-old joined the Gunners from London rivals Chelsea in 2015 and holds several Premier League records, including the most clean sheets (202 in 443 appearances).
"It has been 20 years since I signed my first professional contract, so it feels like the right time to announce that I will retire at the end of this season," the Czech said on Twitter.
"Having played 15 years in the Premier League, and won every single trophy possible, I feel like I have achieved everything I set out to achieve," he added.
"I will continue to work hard at Arsenal to hopefully win one more trophy this season, then I am looking forward to seeing what life holds for me off the pitch."
Cech started the season as Arsenal manager Unai Emery's first choice but lost out to new signing Bernd Leno after he suffered a hamstring injury in September.
The four-time Premier League Golden Glove winner has been restricted to Cup appearances since his return.
Cech joined Chelsea from French side Rennes in July 2004 and helped them win four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, the Uefa Champions League and Europa League.
He also suffered a fractured skull while playing against Reading in 2006, leading to the tall Czech wearing protective headgear.
With Arsenal, Cech has won another FA Cup and two Community Shields.
Cech kept a total of 228 clean sheets with Chelsea in all competitions, before he fell behind Thibaut Courtois in the pecking order.
He still holds the Premier League record for most clean sheets in a season (24) and went 1,024 minutes without conceding in 2004-05, a benchmark that has since been surpassed. He was capped 124 times by his country and played in the 2006 World Cup.
The North Londoners are fifth in the Premier League, ahead of United on goal difference but 16 points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
Arsenal remain in contention for the FA Cup, although they host in-form Manchester United in the fourth round on Jan 25, and the Europa League.
"For your consummate professionalism, for being the perfect role model, for the 50 clean sheets, for your honesty, your integrity and for your inspiring work with @AFC-Foundation, we want to say... thank you @PetrCech," Arsenal said on Twitter.
For your consummate professionalism, for being the perfect role model, for the 50 clean sheets, for your honesty, your integrity and for your inspiring work with @AFC_Foundation, we want to say…Thank you, @PetrCech! â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/AGXeIAAZKA— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) January 15, 2019
Chelsea also paid tribute to their former goalkeeper, tweeting: "There's only 1 @PetrCech! Thanks for the memories! A champion on and off the pitch. Enjoy your retirement, @PetrCech!"
A champion on and off the pitch. ðŸ†Enjoy your retirement, @PetrCech! pic.twitter.com/VrAa2UTTLj— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 15, 2019
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright tweeted: "All the best Petr. Enjoy the rest of the season and all the best for your retirement. It has been a pleasure watching you play."
Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster said that Cech was "one of my all time favourites".
"You'll be missed Petr," he tweeted.
Rose confident Spurs can cope without Kane and Alli. Manchester City's Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez (left) vies with Tottenham Hotspur's English defender Danny Rose during the Uefa Champions
Sanchez: Spurs squad can cope without Kane and Alli
Manchester City celebrated their domestic treble with an open-top bus parade on Monday, drawing an estimated 100,000 fans to the streets of the city centre. (AFP pic) MANCHESTER: Manchester City
Treble winners Man City enjoy parade - sports.yahoo.com
Hopes fade for football star Emiliano Sala as rescuers search English Channel Emiliano Sala was flying from the French city of Nantes to Cardiff for his club debut when the plane lost radar contact off the English Channel island of Guernsey late on Monday.
Search for missing Cardiff City's Emiliano Sala resumes in
Former Spurs midfielder Giovani dos Santos is set to leave football and release a Reggaeton album with his brother Jonathan in February, according to a report in ESPN. We're not quite sure on the veracity of this claim, given that the brothers both have contracts with LA Galaxy for another year yet.
Ossie's Dream - 1980/81 Cup Final Squad with Chas & Dave
Returning Ozil has Arsenal future says Emery getty, Shaun Botterill Mesut Ozil will return to the Arsenal squad for Saturday's Premier League visit of Burnley, with manager Unai Emery saying he believes the midfielder has a future at the Emirates Stadium.
Premier League: Returning Mesut Ozil has Arsenal future says
Thuney, a third-round pick in 2016, is the highest-drafted of the Patriots' starting linemen. Right guard Shaq Mason was a fourth-rounder in 2015, right tackle Marcus Cannon was a fifth-rounder
The dilemma of having foreign workers in Malaysia, Opinion
Portugal did not need Cristiano Ronaldo to go toe-to-toe with Virgil van Dijk as Bernardo Silva propelled them towards Nations League glory. More In the 28th minute it happened.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal star appears unhappy after
Eden Hazard can leave Chelsea if he wants, says Maurizio
Solskjaer 'confident' of Man Utd miracle in Paris Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his "confident" side could stage a Champions League fightback at Paris Saint-Germain this week after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Southampton on Saturday.
Solskjaer 'confident' of Man Utd miracle in Paris
Chelsea have completed the signing of Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, who will join the club on loan from Juventus until the end of the season, the Premier League club said on Wednesday. Higuain joins Chelsea after his year-long loan spell with AC Milan was cut to less than six months. The deal
Higuain completes Chelsea loan deal from Juventus - Reuters
Football: Young Lions beaten, but not discouraged, after SPL
Get a report of the Southampton vs. Cardiff City 2018/2019 English Premier League football match. Cardiff 2-1 win over Southampton in thrilling finish Zohore scuffed home a shot to give
Football: Zohore gives Cardiff 2-1 win over Southampton in
PARMA, Italy (Reuters) - Fabio Quagliarella became Italy's oldest goalscorer as his double helped Roberto Mancini's rejuvenated side thrash 10-man Liechtenstein 6-0 in their second Euro 2020
Football: Veteran Quagliarella helps rejuvenated Italy thrash
Valencia eased into the semi-finals of the Europa League for the first time in five years with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to fellow Spanish side Villarreal in heavy rain on Thursday for a
Valencia stroll into Europa semis with Villarreal win - Daily
0 comments:
Post a Comment