Jakarta - Petr Cech memutuskan pensiun di akhir musim ini. Salah satu kiper terbaik di era Premier League itu akan menyudahi karier gemilangnya di Inggris. Cech (36 tahun) beberapa jam lalu memutuskan untuk menyudahi kariernya pada akhir musim ini. Melalui akun Instagram dan Twiiter, kiper asal Republik Ceko itu menyatakan gantung sepatu bertepatan dengan 20 tahun sejak dia terjun menjadi pesepakbola profesional. Berikut fakta kiper Arsenal, yang sempat memberi Chelsea sukses besar, itu dikutip dari berbagai sumber: - Petr Cech lahir di Pilsen, Republik Ceko, pada 20 Mei 1982. Dia adalah kembar tiga bersama saudarinya yang bernama Sarka dan saudara laki-laki bernama Michal. Michal meninggal karena infeksi pada usia dua tahun.
- Sebelum terkenal menjadi pesepakbola, Cech pernah juga turun di dunia akting. Dia menjadi aktor dalam serial televisi berjudul The Territory of White Deer pada tahun 1991. - Saat berusia 10 tahun kaki Petr Cech patah. Cedera itu membuat dia tak bisa lagi bermain bola sebagai outfield player, di mana dia kerap diturunkan sebagai gelandang atau penyerang. Mulai sering dimainkan sebagai kiper, dari situ takdirnya sebagai penjaga gawang dimulai. - Petr Cech datang ke Inggris bersamaan dengan revolusi besar yang terjadi di Chelsea pada 2004. Tapi dia sebenarnya lebih dulu ditaksir Arsenal, di mana Arsene Wenger tertarik membelinya pada 2002. - Debut Cech di Inggris adalah menghadapi Manchester United. Di musim perdananya pada 2004/2005, Cech hanya kemasukan 15 gol di Premier League dan mengantar Chelsea jadi juara. - Setelah patah kaki di umur 10 tahun, Cech mengalami kecelakaan lain yang tak kalah mengerikan di Oktober 2006. Tengkorak kepalanya retak setelah berbenturan dengan pemain Reading Stephen Hunt. Dalam wawancara dengan Guardian beberapa tahun kemudian, Cech menyebut kalau nyawanya sempat terancam akibat kejadian itu. - Absen cukup panjang, Cech comebak pada Januari 2007. Dia turun kembali ke lapangan menggunakan pelindung kepala seperti yang digunakan pemain rugby. Helm tersebut kemudian identik dengannya sampai sekarang. - Selain piawai menghalau bola menggunakan tangan, Petr Cech juga hebat dalam menggebuk drum. Cech diketahui merupakan fans berat Coldplay dan Foo Fighters. VIDEO - Petr Cech adalah kiper dengan jumlah clean sheet terbanyak di Premier League. Saat ini dia tercatat melewati 202 pertandingan tanpa kebobolan (46% dari total pertandingan yang dia jalani).
London — Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech announced on Tuesday he will retire at the end of the season.
The 36-year-old, who won four Premier League titles with Chelsea, revealed his decision on Twitter. He wrote: “This is my 20th season as a professional player and it is 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, who arrived in the Premier League with Chelsea in 2004 and moved to Arsenal in 2015, added: “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. 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 joined Arsenal in 2015 and has made 129 appearances for the Gunners after winning multiple trophies at Chelsea.
Signed from Rennes by Claudio Ranieri in 2004, Cech won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, the Champions League, Europa League and three League Cups with the Blues.
Cech suffered a serious head injury in 2006 following a collision with Reading’s Stephen Hunt. Hunt’s knee crashed into Cech’s head, leaving him with a fractured skull, but he returned to action four months later wearing what became his trademark protective headgear.
Cech became the first goalkeeper to keep 200 Premier League clean sheets in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Watford last season, during which he saved a penalty from Troy Deeney. He is also the Czech Republic’s most capped player, making 124 appearances.
Cech is no longer first choice at Arsenal, with Bernd Leno preferred for most of this season so far, but the club were quick to pay their own tribute.
Media playback is not supported on this device Petr Cech: Retiring goalkeeper's incredible save for Chelsea in FA Cup Final v Liverpool
Arsenal keeper Petr Cech will retire at the end of the season.
The 36-year-old joined Arsenal in June 2015 from the London rivals Chelsea, where he spent 11 years.
"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," said the ex-Czech Republic international.
"I will continue to work hard at Arsenal to hopefully win one more trophy this season."
Cech's career was in doubt in October 2006 when he required surgery for a skull fracture after a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt.
The keeper was out for three months and has since worn a protective headguard during games.
He added: "This is my 20th season as a professional player and 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.
"I am looking forward to seeing what life holds for me off the pitch."
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'A champion on and off the pitch'
Cech arrived in England when he was signed by Chelsea from French club Rennes in July 2004.
He went on to win 13 trophies with the Stamford Bridge club, including one Champions League and four Premier League titles.
He also set a club record of 228 clean sheets in all competitions, beating the previous mark of 208 set by former England international Peter Bonetti between 1960 and 1979.
Cech eventually lost his place to Belgian Thibaut Courtois before joining Arsenal and helping the Gunners win the FA Cup in 2017.
"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 the Arsenal Foundation, we want to say - thank you Petr Cech," tweeted Arsenal.
In a statement on their website, the club added: "Petr recently informed us of his decision. Like all football fans, we are sad about this, but completely understand and support Petr."
"A champion on and off the pitch," said a message from Chelsea. "Enjoy your retirement."
Petr Cech's Premier League career Chelsea Arsenal Appearances 333 110 Minutes played 29,713 9,783 Goals conceded 241 125 Minutes per goal conceded 123 78 Clean sheets 162 40 Clean sheet % 48.6% 36.4% Saves 800 336 Saves to shots % 76.7% 72.4%
Cech started this season as Arsenal first choice keeper but has since lost his place to Bernd Leno.
The Czech has made 12 appearances for the Gunners this season, with his most recent coming when he started in the FA Cup third round win at Blackpool.
Cech has also played in Europa League and League Cup games, but has not played in the league since going off injured in the win over Watford on 29 September.
Arsenal, who are fifth in the Premier League, host fourth-placed Chelsea in the top flight on Saturday.
Cech's main chances of adding to his trophy haul appear to be in the FA Cup and Europa League.
The Gunners play Manchester United in the next round of the FA Cup, with the competition's final on 19 May - the day before Cech turns 37.
Arsenal play BATE Borisov in the next round of the Europa League, with the final of that competition on 29 May.
Analysis
BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty
Petr Cech's retirement will see the curtain come down on the career of one of the most significant and successful figures of the Premier League era.
The Czech goalkeeper was part of the spine of Chelsea's golden years under the likes of Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and then most spectacularly of all when, with interim manager Roberto di Matteo in charge, he was the hero of the Champions League final win against Bayern Munich on penalties in their own AllianzArena in 2012.
Cech won every major trophy at Chelsea, 13 in all, and also showed the courage to return from a serious head injury sustained in a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt in October 2006 that has seen him wear his trademark skullcap for the remainder of his career in a position where bravery is a pre-requisite.
He is a keeper and character who exudes calm authority, a figure of reliability and stability in an era, especially at Chelsea, when change on and off the field was often frequent.
Cech moved to Arsenal from Chelsea in summer 2015 with owner Roman Abramovich's personal blessing after his years of outstanding service.
The 36-year-old has also emerged as a distinguished figure off the field, with his class and dignity making him a hugely respected individual by everyone inside the game.
Cudicini played with fellow keeper Cech at Chelsea
BBC Sport looks back on Petr Cech's incredible save in the final few minutes of the 2012 FA Cup final, which kept the score at 2-1, foiling Liverpool's Andy Carroll and securing the trophy for Chelsea.
READ MORE: Cech to retire at the end of the season
