Featured Image Credit: Instagram/petrcech
Topics: Petr Cech, Chelsea, Arsenal, Premier League
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Petr Cech, Chelsea, Arsenal, Premier League
Damian Cech, the son of former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech, has signed his first professional contract.
The 16-year-old goalkeeper, who has already made his debut for the Czech Republic under-18s, will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father, who lifted four Premier League titles and a Champions League during a trophy-laden spell at Chelsea.
In fact, the former Arsenal shot-stopper holds a number of records in England's top flight, including most clean sheets in Premier League history (202 in 443 games) and the most clean sheets in a single Premier League season (24 in the 2004/05 season).
At first, it looked like Damian would emulate his dad after he played for the youth team of ice hockey club Guildford Phoenix. Since hanging up his gloves, Petr has lived out his childhood dream of playing ice hockey and was even named Man of the Match on his debut.
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Cech continued to play for Guildford while serving as a technical advisor at former club Chelsea and lifted an unprecedented treble with Phoenix during the 2021/22 season.
Damian, however, decided to put down his skates and focus on football. He spent a number of years in Chelsea’s academy before moving across London to join fellow Premier League side Fulham last year.
And now, the 16-year-old goalkeeper has penned his first professional deal with the Cottagers. Celebrating the news, he posted a picture of his contract signing – which involved his parents – alongside the caption: "Forever grateful".
Adela Cechova, the daughter of Petr Cech, earned an international call-up in February after impressing for the recently-crowned London & South East Women’s Regional Football League Premier Division champions Fulham.
The 17-year-old defender made her debut for Czechia's under-17s in a 3-0 defeat to Mexico in the MIMA Cup; a tournament based in Spain.
Czechia coach Daniel Smejkal was full of praise for Cechova, saying: "She's a promising defender. Now we are taking her with us to Spain to train so that we can get to know her better."