Chelsea legend and former goalkeeper, Petr Cech, is set to debut for a professional ice hockey club, Guildford Phoenix, on Sunday.
Cech, who was the Blues goalkeeper before leaving Stamford Bridge for Arsenal, has signed a contract with the Phoenix as a goaltender. The 37-year-old Czech international retired from professional football at the end of the last season. He then returned to the Bridge and currently works as the club’s technical and performance adviser.
Earlier this year, he trained for another ice hockey club, Guildford Flames, but eventually signed for the Phoenix. In a statement on Phoenix’s website, Cech said, “I am delighted to have the opportunity to play with the Phoenix to get match experience.”
He added, “After 20 years of professional football this is going to be a wonderful experience for me to play the game I loved to watch and play as a kid.”
The Phoenix is currently on the fourth tier of Britain’s ice hockey ladder. The club was founded in 2017. They will face the Swindon Wildcats 2 this Sunday, and Cech is hoping to have his first appearance for the hockey club.
Chelsea Clarifies How Cech’s New Career Will Affect His Job
The big bosses at Stamford Bridge said that Cech’s new career will not affect his job as the Blues’ technical and performance adviser.
They said that their former goalkeeper will only play for the ice hockey club whenever he is available or when his schedule permits him to. They added that Cech’s hockey dream will only be secondary.
On the club’s website, ‘[Cech] will play as goalie for Guildford Phoenix, which is located close to where he lives,’ Chelsea explained. ‘When his Chelsea Football Club schedule allows, he is ready to help them in their league games.’
Phoenix head coach Andy Hemmings said, ‘The signing of Petr is massive for the Phoenix, he is a great guy who trains hard and I cannot wait to see him make his debut.’
