Petr Cech

A talented goalkeeper currently playing for Chelsea. After impressing as a youngster with Sparta Prague and then Rennes, he arrived at Stamford Bridge in July 2004.

In his first season in England he set a then-record 1,025 minutes without conceding a goal en route to the first of the club’s back-to-back League titles. A three-time UEFA Best Goalkeeper Award winner, Petr’s career was threatened in late 2006 when he suffered a fractured skull.

It kept him sidelined for three months, and has meant he has had to wear head protection when playing ever since. For a long time it was apparent that he was no longer the same goalkeeper but he bounced back with a strong 2010-11 campaign, earning the Chelsea Player of the Season award.

Petr was an integral figure in Chelsea’s Champions League success of 2012, saving two penalties in the shoot-out against Bayern Munich en route to lifting the trophy.

He remains first choice ‘keeper for the Czech Republic and is approaching the 100 cap milestone as of the end of Euro 2012.