Petr Cech, the former goalkeeper for Chelsea and Arsenal, has revealed that he has separated from his wife, Martina, ending 26 years of their marriage. The 43-year-old announced this on Instagram, giving a heartfelt look into their long relationship.
Petr and Martina’s story began in high school in 1999, and they got married in the summer of 2003. Throughout Petr’s successful football career, Martina was always by his side, supporting him both on and off the field. Despite their separation, they remain friends and are proud of their two children.
Their daughter, Adela, is working hard in football as a defender for Fulham and the Czech Republic U17 team. Damian, their son, is starting a career as a goalkeeper, just like his father. He recently signed his first professional contract with Fulham after moving from Chelsea, following a similar path to his father’s career.
Petr Cech said that he never put pressure on his children to play football; instead, they developed their passion for the sport.
From an early age, they have navigated the inevitable comparisons associated with my name. Damian has made notable strides, having joined Fulham’s Under-15 squad and representing his nation at the Under-18 level last August, an impressive feat at just 15 years of age.
Adela made her debut during the national youth setup for Czechia in February during the MIMA Cup, facing Mexico. Her coach, Daniel Smejkal, has characterized her as ‘a promising defender,’ and there are high expectations for her development during the upcoming training camp in Spain. She participated in the latter part of the match against Mexico, demonstrating commendable tenacity despite been on the wrong side of a 3-0 scoreline.
As Cech reflects on the moment of missing his daughter’s birth in 2008, he embraces a complex mix of emotions. He said, “It was the best day of my life and also the saddest.” He recalls the overwhelming joy of becoming a father and the immense pride he felt for his wife. Despite the challenge of not being there for such an important occasion, he treasures those feelings and understands that life is filled with moments that combine both joy and hardship.
He remembers that his daughter chose to come in the middle of the night, which left him anxiously waiting by the phone for news. “I couldn’t do anything but wait,” he said, hinting at the thrill of future family events.
Petr Čech missed the birth of his daughter as he was with his Chelsea teammates for a crucial League Cup semi-final match against Everton. Looking back on that period, he feels a strong bond with Chelsea, appreciating all the years he spent with the club since he joined in 2004 from Rennes. During his time there, he played almost 500 matches before moving on to the next stage of his career.
After leaving Chelsea, he joined Arsenal, where he played 139 matches, wearing his famous helmet as a result of an injury he sustained earlier in his career. As he looks forward, he gets ready for new experiences in both his personal life and in football, excited about what lies ahead.
