Petr Cech is one of the most successful goalkeepers of all time. He played for Chelsea FC (2020-2021) and previously played for Arsenal FC between 2015-2019.
While most sports fans know Petr Cech as a professional footballer, few people know he is also an avid ice hockey player. The Czech Republic national team captain was even named Player of the Year in 2012 and 2014 by his fellow teammates and coaches.
Football is a physical sport, and goalkeepers are some of the more roughed-up players on the pitch. Many goalkeepers have suffered head injuries, concussions, and facial fractures from strong shots by opponents, and Petr Cech is no exception.
Why Does Petr Cech Wear A Rugby Helmet?
Because of his 2006 head injury, which left him with a depressed skull fracture, the doctors ordered him to wear the helmet as a precaution after an emergency brain surgery was performed on him.
Petr Cech’s Career At A Glance
Petr Cech is a former goalkeeper for 5 clubs namely; Chmel Blsany (‘99-‘01), Sparta Prague (‘01-‘02), Rennes (‘02-‘04), Chelsea (‘04-‘15 and 2020-2021), Arsenal (between 2015 to 2019) and captains the Czech Republic national team.
Several journalists and football experts consider him to be one of the mightiest goalkeepers of all time.
He has 567 career appearances,494 of them attributed to his 11-year career with Chelsea FC.
Cech started his professional career at Sparta Prague, where he won the Gambrinus Liga top-goal-scorer award in 2001 and was named Czech Footballer of the Year in 2003. His performances attracted Chelsea, whom he joined in 2004.
He established himself as first-choice keeper during the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons, helping Chelsea win Premier League titles(back-to-back), the FA Cup, and two League Cups, despite intense competition from Scotland international Craig Gordon.
Petr Cech has been a vital part of the Chelsea squad since 2004. He’s been a solid defensive wall for Chelsea fans for more than a decade.
He is one of the highest-paid and most decorated players in the history of the Premier League. In the 2004–05 season, he set a new record for the highest 24 clean sheets in a season. He holds the highest number of clean sheets at 202.
Cech has received various praises and accolades throughout his career, including being named the best goalkeeper of the 2006–07 season in the Premier League and the UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year in 2003–04.
He has several league titles and UEFA championships.
A Short History Of Petr Cech’s Head Injuries
Sports are full of heroes and villains, stories of the good and the bad. For every hero, there is a villain, and for every great story, there is an unexpected twist.
The tale of Petr Cech’s head injuries is precisely that; an unexpected twist to football’s greatest heroes.
On 14th October 2006, Petr Cech sustained a significant head injury that saw him miss three months due to a concussion.
A collision with Reading’s striker, Stephen Hunt’s knee resulted in a skull fracture and a brain injury. This happened within the 1st minute of the match in Chelsea’s penalty area.
He was rushed to the hospital immediately and was replaced by another player, Carlo Cudicini, who was also knocked unconscious by a stroke of bad luck.
After the two incidents, their captain had to play as goalie for the rest of the match.
Cech underwent emergency brain surgery, and the doctors advised him to wear headgear protection for the rest of his career.
He returned to the field in January of 2007 with a headgear made by Canterbury of New Zealand, which caused quite a stir among the team’s sponsor Puma and Adidas, their apparel manufacturer.
Puma went ahead and developed a special headgear for Cech to wear throughout his games.
Does The Helmet Protect His Head?
Petr Cech’s helmet is a big part of his identity, but does it protect his head?
The helmet does indeed offer a lot of protection. Cech wears a helmet because he has suffered from significant head injuries in the past.
The helmet protects him from getting skull fractures, brain contusions, concussions, and intracranial bleeding. If he doesn’t, he has problems with his insurance.
He has religiously worn a helmet ever since the head injury in 2006, and he seems to have adjusted to wearing a helmet without too much trouble.
What Do Sports Scientists Think About The Helmet?
Petr Cech’s helmet has become an essential part of the goalkeeper’s image. The Czech Republic international has worn it for more than ten years, long enough to convince him that it does make a difference.
Now top sports scientists are interested in the unusual headgear and want to know if it could prevent concussions in other sports.
Futurologist Ian Pearson has predicted the future of football and states that footballers will be using advanced headgear to reduce the risk of concussion alongside Artificial Intelligence in a decade or two.
A football helmet manufacturer called Pro-Tec has launched a new helmet designed to reduce the risk of concussion in professional soccer players.
The helmet is made using five different materials intended to absorb various levels of shock depending on the part of the head impacted.
One of the materials used is polymer foam, which absorbs energy in high-impact collisions. However, there’s controversy over this material, precisely because it’s not clear how effective it reduces concussions.
The makers claim that their tests prove highly effective, but there haven’t been any independent claims to prove true.
5 Goalkeeping Equipment Must-Haves
A goalkeeper is a player who guards an opponent’s goal. As part of their role, goalkeepers can use their hands, arms, legs, and body to control the ball.
Goalkeepers need to be appropriately equipped with the right gear. The wrong equipment will make your goalkeeper training experience more complex and can lead to serious injury.
There are five essential pieces of gear every goalkeeper must-have, and no matter what level or style you play, these items will help you improve your skills and keep you safe.
Goalkeeping Gloves
The most important thing is the goalkeeper gloves. Gloves are costly, and you should always go after getting a quality goalie glove that offers more than just protection from injury but also helps you grip the ball.
There are various types of gloves that a goalkeeper can use, depending on their preference or style. The most important thing a goalkeeper should do is make sure the gloves fit their hand correctly; otherwise, they may not grab the ball properly.
Football Boots
You must wear the proper football boots and the fitting football kit, which is vital for a goalkeeper as they need to kick with accuracy and power.
A goalkeeper needs to feel comfortable in their football boots, and they need to move freely with an outstanding balance.
Football boots are designed specifically for the sport of football. They provide a better grip on the football field, help keep your feet warm, and enable you to play comfortably without any restrictions.
When choosing the right pair of football boots, there are several things you should consider. These include the brand, style, fit, color, material, and price. Depending on your personal preferences, some of these factors will be more important than others.
Padded Shorts Or Trousers
Padded Soccer Shorts (or padded shorts/trousers) are designed to protect goalkeepers from hard shots and help them develop quicker reaction times.
This is an excellent product for a goalkeeper to wear. It’s padded shorts or trousers. It will protect the groin area from kicks and reduce the impact of balls kicked to the groin area.
This item might also help reduce the number of injuries that goalkeepers have to deal with.
Goalkeeper Shirt or Jersey
Goalkeeper jerseys usually come in different colors and patterns, like any other jersey, including extra padding and reinforced stitching.
The padding that goalkeepers wear helps to protect them from injuries that could happen during the game. It’s not just their hands, either. A lot of goalkeepers have cuts and bruises all over their bodies from diving on the ground.
The padding also helps with protection against extreme weather conditions, so they can stay focused on the game instead of being distracted by a cold or a heat stroke.
Shin Guards
In addition, they wear special pads that cover the knee and thigh areas. These pads are designed to protect them from hard shots coming from close range. It also protects their knees from impact on the ground.
Conclusion
Petr Cech is an excellent example of how players can develop through their careers. He started as an average player who was lucky to be on the team but worked hard to get where he is now.
While Cech might have been an okay ice hockey player, he’s the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. Let’s be thankful that he chose to play soccer instead!
