Petr Cech (born 20 May 1982 in Plzen, Czechoslovakia, now Czech Republic) is a Czech international football goalkeeper who is currently contracted to English Premier League football club Chelsea, for whom he has played since July 2004. Petr Cech has previously played for Viktoria Plzen, Chmel Blšany, Sparta Prague, and Rennes. He was voted into the all-star team of Euro 2004 after helping his country reach the semi-finals. Cech also received the individual award of Best Goalkeeper in the 2004/2005, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 season of the UEFA Champions League. In addition, he was named in the FIFPro and UEFA Champions League teams of the season in 2006.
He currently holds three records: a Czech professional league record of not conceding a goal in 855 competitive minutes, an English Premiership record of not conceding a goal in 1,025 minutes, and the most clean sheets accomplished in a single Premier League season, set during Chelsea’s 2004—05 title-winning campaign. He also has a club record at his former team Sparta Praha, having gone 928 minutes unbeaten in all competitions in 2001—2002, when his unbeaten run in Czech league competition was combined with his performances in the UEFA Champions League.
It was Claudio Ranieri, then manager of Chelsea, who decided that the young Czech goalkeeper was his choice as understudy to Carlo Cudicini. After the original bid was rejected, Rennes accepted a second in February. Cech agreed a summer move to Chelsea for £7 m (€10.3 m), signing a five-year contract, to commence in July 2004. This transfer meant that he had cost more than every other Chelsea goalkeeper in history put together. Cech’s transfer from Rennes was one of those about which the Stevens inquiry report in June 2007 expressed concerns because of the lack of co-operation from agents Pini Zahavi and Barry Silkman.
He signed a new contract on 1 February 2006 which will keep him at the club until 2010.
On 14 October 2006, Cech and Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt both challenged for the ball inside Chelsea's penalty area in the first minute of a league match at the Madejski Stadium. Hunt’s knee hit Cech's head, leaving the keeper dazed. Cech was immediately taken off and replaced by Carlo Cudicini, who himself was knocked unconscious later in the same game. Cech underwent surgery for a depressed skull fracture.
Cech underwent minor shoulder surgery on 27 June 2006 to repair a long-standing injury stemming from the previous English Premiership season.
Cech returned to action on 27 August 2006 during Chelsea’s Premier League match versus Blackburn, keeping a clean sheet.