Thank you, Petr Cech

[BlueLion. 21,491]

When, in February 2004, Chelsea announced the arrival of Petr Cech, many expected the then 21 year-old to be Carlo Cudicini's long-term - rather than immediate - successor.

Like when Thibaut Courtois last season displaced Cech as Chelsea's number one, Cech's inclusion in José Mourinho's first competitive game in charge of the West London outfit saw one of the Premier League's - if not the world's - outstanding goalkeepers being ousted by absolute raw potential.

Even with his reputation inflated by a series of stellar showings in Euro 2004 for his native Czech Republic, it seemed highly likely that Cech would be heading to Stamford Bridge to be Cudicini's understudy as, in the summer of 2004, Roman Abramovich's Chelsea project identified a number of potential future greats of the game in Cech, Arjen Robben and Didier Drogba.

Instead, not only did Cech establish himself as - statistically - the best goalkeeper in world football in his début season, but he played a pivotal role in a side that secured Chelsea's first league title in fifty years, as well a League Cup triumph at the expense of Liverpool.

Going a then record 1,025 minutes unbeaten and then keeping twenty-five clean sheets in the Premier League alone, Cech conceded only fourteen times in 37 league appearances in his first season for the Blues. He only added to his burgeoning status as a goalkeeping great by once again being the most consistent of Mourinho's squad of superstars in the 2005/06 season, as Chelsea once more secured the league crown at a canter.

Yet it was in the 2006/07 season that Cech's legend was written.

It was in a royal scrap of a game at newly-promoted Reading when Cech was knocked unconscious in a collision with Stephen Hunt. After a similar, but thankfully not as serious collision between Hugo Lloris of Tottenham and Everton's Romelu Lukaku, Mourinho recalled the incident:

‘Petr Cech was dying on the pitch, clearly', said Mourinho. ‘We all know at that moment that he was dying. So there is no space for doubt, no space for question marks, no space for communication or lack of communication between player, doc, manager. There was no space'.

Cech suffered a depressed fracture of the skull, which nearly cost him his life. Instead, he returned and in March 2007, after a run of going 810 minutes without conceding since his comeback game against Liverpool, he became the first goalkeeper since Tim Flowers in September 2000 to win the Premier League's Player of the Month award.

In his Chelsea career, Cech has won four Premier League titles (2004/05, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2014/15), three League Cups (2004/05, 2006/07, 2014/15), four FA Cups (2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2011/12), two FA Community Shields (2005/06, 2009/10), one Europa League title (2012/13) and - most significantly in 2011/12 - the UEFA Champions League.

That fateful night in Munich remains the greatest night in Chelsea history, and surely in Cech's own illustrious career. Though he was only truly tested once in normal time, as he diverted Robben's drive onto the bar, the giant Czech pulled off a crucial penalty save in extra time from the same player. 'Written in the stars', claimed Gary Neville, as Cech showed almost machine-like focus and application in the resulting penalty shoot-out to deny both Ivica Olic and Bastian Schweinsteiger to win Chelsea the big-eared trophy.

Cech showed good grace when he was overthrown by Thibaut Courtois. Recognising that his time had at Chelsea had come full circle, the Czech today posted an open letter to Chelsea fans confirming both his move to Arsenal and the reasons for it.

Claiming that he is not yet ready to accept being a number two, Cech explained that he agreed to remain at the club last season to see if his position would change after Mourinho gave Courtois the coveted starting berth. With circumstances still in the Belgian's favour, Cech has agreed on the best move for his family and has decided to remain in the capital for the benefit of his wife and children.

For that, no level-headed Chelsea fan could begrudge such a wonderful servant to the club a move to any club, even if it is to one who could end up being deadly rivals for the Premier League title next term. Nevertheless, Cech has shown great respect to the club and the fans, particularly in the past twelve months in remaining at the club despite his relatively untenable position. Cech has been open and honest about his intentions - unlike some - and for that reason he deserved every ounce of gratitude from Chelsea fans around the world.

228 clean sheets, 486 appearances, hundreds of spectacular saves and countless magical moments.

Thank you, Petr Cech.

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[xPetrCechx 13,546]

I'm Not Leaving.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I'm Not Leaving.

[Tautvix 1,321]

Thank you but now Cech is a rival. Love stories are over for now..

[supporter 3,088]

Although I am very very disappointed by his decision and I can not understand it, thank you very much Peter Cech for everything you have given us.

I wish you the best in your personal life.

Regards.

[samzilla 517]

The thing that hurts is you don't see rivals helping us out. Torres doesn't count. Liverpool knew he was damaged goods and still charged us a premium.

edit: Also Lampard, this is how it's done:

https://twitter.com/PetrCech/status/615527161475268609

[Sosuke Aizen 46]

Thanks for the memories Petr. We're never going to forget you. Wishing all the best in your personal and all the worst in your professional life from now on.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

First of all the most disappointing thing at the moment is that another legend leave without a proper farewell. Even Ferreira have his farewell chance better, with his kids, family, waving goodbye, speech, etc.

Unlike others actually I understand with people who didn't wish him all the best. Cech join Arsenal and he is playing for our rivals now, how can you wish him good luck? So that Arsenal could win some more titles were you guys wishes?

I could recognized what Cech has done for us all this years and sending him all the best, posting tons of 'thank you Cech', rewind my memories of his great saves, if he is joining overseas club or when he finally retired some day. For now, I'm sorry but no good wish from me.

[zolayes 14,489]

sad but time to move on

[Oscar 441]

gluck Petr Cech.

Roman appreciated your service and you got the deal you wanted for your family. Goodluck for the future, but you won't win anything outside of domestic cups.

[Johnnyeye 7,405]

What can i say? really really gutted to see Cech go to Arsenal, of all places why there??? why strenghten a direct rival, specially Arsenal ? why make them stronger?, specially in a position they lacked quality for so long, for me it does not make any sense, really bad business on our part in my opinion, and only for 11 million??? thats´s a steal for a world class GK like Cech, Jose would never had let this happen. As you can see from Cech´s letter to Chelsea fans he mentions Abramovich letting him stay in the premier league, and there is the situation with his family wanting to stay in London too, of course family comes first, could have at least have a special mention for Mourinho in his letter, Mourinho was the one who trusted in him in goal since day 1, Cech was 22 at the time and took Cudicini´s place in goal, he arrived at the club as a promising GK and Mourinho gave him the confidence to succeed at Chelsea, that´s my view. I would much rather prefered if he had joined a club outside England, the tought of seeing him in a Arsenal shirt sickens me to the stomach and it can hurt us in the future, sorry about the rant and if i sound too negative, but it´s just the reality of the situation.

True, will never forget what he did for us, one of the major contributions for our success this last 11 years, best GK in Chelsea´s history to date, one of the best GK´s in the world while playing for us, his commitment, passion and desire with us should never be questioned, he gave his all for us, made so many top saves, won us so many games and points, gave us many great moments to cherrish, broke all kinds of GK records for clean sheets, would have liked to see him break David James Premier League record of clean sheets with us, but it´s not meant to be, oh well. He will be forever in our hearts specially for what he did that night in Munich in the Champions League final, and his intervention in so many other finals we´ve won with him in goal, I thank him very much at the bottom of my heart for all that he´s done for us, a true great, a legend in his own right and he deserves to play regular football, but now that he´s joined a rival i just can´t wish him success, specially against us, sorry if i sound like a bastard, but that´s how i feel at the moment, maybe with time it will pass. Anyway, we must move on from Cech, he´s not with us anymore and we must focus on the new generation of players we have, gladly we have the GK position sorted out for many years because we have a great GK in Courtois who´s top class and will play for us many years hopefully and give his all for us just like Cech did, mind you he´s only 23, he still has his best years ahead of him and i´m glad we have him in our team, he can only get better and can become a great legend for us too, this one we must hold on to at all costs, it´s his time to shine . Hope we can add a few signings this summer so that we can try to defend our title and take the Premier League by storm again next season,( let´s beat the gooners with Cech in their goal and show them we mean business ) and try to win other cup competitions, specially the Champions League Win, Lose or Draw, Chelsea till i die and here´s to many more future success my fellow Chelsea fans, cheers to you all, KTBFFH

[Kieran. 6,317]

[emoji23] Petr Cech a legend

[Atlas Lion 1,223]

Is he not? He was one of the key figures in our most successful period in this clubs history?

[bluephoenix 1,125]

whats wrong with us, offloading a world class keeper to our rivals !!!??!?!?

The bests of chelsea landing in rival clubs ! Lampard in city, cech in Arsenal what next Terry to united ?