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Chelsea legend Petr Cech joins third tier ice hockey side Oxford City Stars as a goaltender, his third team in the sport since retiring from football
- Petr Cech has taken up ice hockey since retiring from football in 2019
- The Chelsea legend has now joined Oxford City Stars, his third team in the sport
- He hoped to help his new side with their ‘big ambitions’ as a goaltender
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has joined third tier ice hockey side Oxford City Stars for the 2023/34 season.
It is the 41-year-old’s third team in the sport since retiring from football in 2019, after he previously represented Guildford Phoenix and Chelmsford Chieftains.
Unsurprisingly, the man who holds the record for Premier League clean sheets plays as a goaltender in ice hockey, a sport he first played when growing up in the Czech Republic.
He has trained with the NHL franchise Chicago Blackhawks in the past, and was named man of the match in his first post-football game for Guildford in 2019 as he saved two penalties in a shoot-out victory.
After joining the Stars, who play in the same league as his previous team the Chieftains and finished two places lower in the South Division One last season, Cech told the club website: ‘I am really excited for a new chapter with Oxford City Stars.
Chelsea legend Petr Cech has joined third tier ice hockey side Oxford City Stars
It is he 41-year-old’s third team in the sport after previously representing Guildford Phoenix and Chelmsford Chieftains
‘I’ve heard good things about the club and looking forward to playing again with some of my ex teammates.
‘It’s clear Oxford have big ambitions and I hope I can help them with those. Personally I’m looking forward to build on the experience with Chelmsford Chieftains in NIHL1 last season and help the team to reach new heights this coming season.’
The club’s Head of Hockey Operations Shane Moore looked forward to welcoming Cech’s ‘magnetic personality’ and backed him to ‘inspire the next generation’ of hockey players.
The Stars have certainly gained a character who knows how to win trophies, as the Czech international picked up 14 major honours across his time with Arsenal and Chelsea.
He is also his countries most capped player with 124, and was named Czech footballer of the year nine times.
Cech took a role as a technical and performance advisor at Chelsea immediately after his retirement in 2019, a role he undertook alongside his first ice hockey appearances, but left his former side in 2022 after Todd Boehly’s takeover.
