Petr Cech has confirmed his retirement from international football with a view to extending his career at the top of the domestic game.
The Arsenal keeper made 121 appearances for the Czech Republic over 14 years becoming his country’s record cap holder in the process.
The 34-year-old played in four European Championships (2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016) and featured at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Reflecting on the decision, Cech touched on how he’d lived his childhood dream.
“I’ve been playing in the national team for 14 years,” he told Arsenal Player. “We always qualified for the big tournaments.
“I’ve had so many club games to play year-by-year too, and I think I’ve reached the point where I believe that if I want to continue doing things to 100 per cent every day, like I’ve always done, then I will probably need more time to rest and recover.
“This is a purely football-based decision. If I want to prolong my career and play at the highest level for as long as I can, then I will probably need to find the balance so that I can continue to do so.
“I’m now 34 and the next [international] tournament is in two years which, in football, is a very long time. The last thing I wanted to do was start a campaign and then say ‘I don’t think it’s right for me to continue’ halfway through it.
“I’ve made fantastic memories and I will keep them. But as I said, you cannot stop time and sometimes you need to make decisions looking to the future. I believe it is the right move.
“When I was a kid, my ultimate dream was to play for the national team at least once,” he added. “Having done it so many times makes me really proud.
“You look back at the Czech and Czechoslovakian history and you see so many great names and players. I managed to play more games than them, which shows the consistency and quality of my game.”
In March, just days after claiming his eighth Czech Player of the Year award, Cech hinted at the likelihood he’d hang up his gloves after the campaign in France. He’ll certainly be missed by his compatriots, but it’s undeniably good news for Arsenal.
Legend.
Anybody else read that headline and think it was an injury? ?
i know my heart skipped a beat 🙁
I thought I was reading the Sun
Szczesny lighted a cigar after reading the title then threw it away after reading the first paragraph.
Hahahaaa???
I almost shat myself thinking this was domestic retirement after this season. Phew
Made me think: anyone ever retire from domestic football to extend their international career 🙂
Theo could give it a try?..
😉
“Czech and Czechoslovakian history” this guy makes me love this freakin club even more.. there are Coles and Fabregases in this world but then there are also legends like him and that has to keep you happy
For some reason I read it as Cech out for 14 years.. ?
Sometimes, I can’t believe we got this dude
I read ‘out for 14 months’.
Count yourself lucky, I read ‘out for 14 years’.
I need a long weekend to recover from the shock!
I know what’s really going on! The national team was taking time away from jammin’ on the drums!
Will Cech be our captain next year when Mert is not playing or will that now fall to Kos? Win-win either way.
It’s great that he can focus on his Arsenal career, he’ll be a Petr goalie for it. Sure, playing for the national team is good, but this way he should be able to go for a few extra years, so his form won’t begin to Petr out anytime soon. I did read something about him and Mrs Cech expecting kids, ahh the “Petr-patter” of not-so-tiny feet ’round the Chech household, lovely. Sadly it wasn’t easy for them to conceive the Dr’s actually used a Petr-y, before transferring the samples into test-tubes. Czech please.
I have no words to describe my feelings about this post
I liked it me.
lol @ this guy haha
I’m pleased that he can now fully concentrate on defending his near post. I’m sure it was constant international travel that dissorientated him.
Felt he could have played for another 2 years and try for the World Cup along with Rosicky (don’t know his situation though). However, feels good that he’s sacrificing his international career in order to prolong his Arsenal career. Long live Cech.
Cech out