Credit: Twitter
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech joined Elite League ice hockey team Belfast Giants in a temporary loan move. Cech made more than 500 Premier League appearances as one of the best goalkeepers of the modern times. He called it quits on his football career at the end of 2018-19 season before switching career to ice hockey. Cech then went on to join the fourth-tier outfit Guildford Phoenix.
It came a few months after Cech appeared as a guest for the Giants against Dnipro Kherson in a charity match to support the continuation of ice hockey in the war-affected country. The 41-year-old joins Giants as a “temporary emergency cover” from Oxford City Stars of the National Ice Hockey League South Division One.
Belfast Giants head coach, Adam Keefe, said in an official statement, “We’re very appreciative of the support of both the Oxford City Stars and Petr himself. His support during this loan period will be invaluable. Petr is a highly decorated athlete, who knows what it takes to perform at the highest level.”
Cech moved to England from Rennes in 2004 and won four Premier League titles during his 11-year tenure with Chelsea, along with five FA Cups, three League Cups, the Champions League, and the Europa League. He signed for Arsenal in 2015 and continued there for the last four years of his football career.
