Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has announced he will retire at the end of the season.
The 36-year-old has lost his starting place to Bernd Leno at the Emirates Stadium this season, and after a 20-year playing career, has opted to quit.
24 – @PetrCech kept 24 clean sheets for @ChelseaFC during the 2004-05 @premierleague campaign – the most any goalkeeper has kept in a single season in the competition. Safe. pic.twitter.com/XclpY1sG6i
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 15, 2019
In a statement on Twitter, he wrote: ‘This is my 20th season as a professional player and it has been 20 years since I signed my first professional contract, so it feels like the right time to announce that I will retire at the end of the season.
‘Having played 15 years in the Premier League, and won every single trophy possible, I feel like I have achieved everything I set out to achieve.
‘I will continue to work hard at Arsenal to hopefully win one more trophy this season, then I am looking forward to seeing what life holds for me off the pitch.’
For your consummate professionalism, for being the perfect role model, for the 50 clean sheets, for your honesty, your integrity and for your inspiring work with @AFC_Foundation, we want to say…
Thank you, @PetrCech! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/AGXeIAAZKA
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) January 15, 2019
A champion on and off the pitch. 🏆
Enjoy your retirement, @PetrCech! pic.twitter.com/VrAa2UTTLj
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 15, 2019
— Petr Cech (@PetrCech) January 15, 2019
202 – @PetrCech has kept 202 @premierleague clean sheets; 33 more than any other goalkeeper in the competition. Legend. pic.twitter.com/1J3pgdVyBG
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 15, 2019
