Jose Mourinho has congratulated Petr Cech for an “amazing career” and claimed he is “honoured” to have managed him.
The veteran goalkeeper announced he was hanging up his boots at the end of the season after 15 years in England’s top flight.
Cech enjoyed a hugely decorated career, particularly with Chelsea, where he won the Premier League title four times and played a crucial role in their Champions League victory in 2012.
Chelsea signed the Czech shot-stopper from Rennes in 2004 for just £7million and went on to become a regular for the Blues for over a decade.
He established himself as one of the finest no.1’s in the world in his time at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho has said he will be a “big loss” to football.
“I am honoured to have been the manager that, at such an early age, gave Petr a top Premier League number one shirt,” he is quoted by Sky Sports.
“After that day, it is all about him. All about his numbers, his performances, his clean sheets, his titles and his professionalism.
“It’s a big loss for football but history can’t be deleted. Many congratulations on such an amazing career.”
After his 11-year stint with Chelsea, Cech signed for Arsenal and went onto win the Golden Glove in his first season with the club.
He then lifted his fifth FA Cup under Arsene Wenger the following the season.
This season, however, he has found his first team opportunities limited since the arrival of Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen.
He has featured in just seven appearances for the Gunners this term.
There is no doubting the keeper will go down as one of the league’s finest.
