Petr Cech has been added the the Premier League Hall of Fame. The Premier League legend was selected by fans worldwide through an online public vote, and the Premier League Awards Panel from a shortlist of 15 players.
Cech joins Rio Ferdinand, Sir Alex Ferguson, and his former Gunners boss Arsène Wenger as Hall of Fame inductees for 2023.
It should perhaps come as little surprise the former Chelsea star has made the cut as he has recorded more clean sheets than any other Premier League goalkeeper, 202 across 443 appearances. He also precided over Chelsea's goal to only concede 15 goals and keep 24 clean sheets in his debut season, in a record start to a career that saw the goalkeeper become Premier League champion four times.
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The former shotstopper and ex-Blues peformance and technical director said: "When I was a child growing up in communist Czechoslovakia, playing in the Premier League was an unimaginable dream. When I look back to where I started, diving on rock solid pitches with stones like golf balls, it has been an amazing journey."
He added: “I hope to be known as someone who showed effort, commitment, and consistency. Making a great save feels the same as scoring a goal and I’m proud of my clean sheet record, but I was even more happy when those clean sheets won matches and points for the team and contributed to titles!
“It's an honour for me to be voted into the Hall of Fame in the best league in the world. That's really a special recognition and leaves a legacy. I’m proud that fans voted for me and appreciated the way I performed over the years.”
Cech further noted that he would have loved to play with Sergio Aguero from the Hall of Fame, while he identified Wayne Rooney as the hardest member 'because the only time in my career I saw Michael Essien bump into a player and fall' and he expects Kevin De Bruyne to make the cut in the future.
The former Czech Republic international also provided some insight in how Chelsea were able to earn a record number of clean sheets back in that first season.
"We as a team took pride in getting clean sheets. It was not only the defenders and goalkeepers, it was everyone chipping in to make sure that if we can’t win, we don't lose. If we don't concede, you only need one shot and you get three points.
"That's what I'm proud of. The clean sheets in that season were beautiful and something to remember, but if you finish third, then you’d think: 'OK great, I have all the records, but all I really wanted was the title.'
"Those clean sheets were the decisive factor in us winning the title. That's what really stands out for me – that every clean sheet not only contributed to all the records, but especially to winning the title."
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