Ex-Chelsea star Petr Cech splits from wife after 26 years

Former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper, Petr Cech, has confirmed his separation from wife, Martina, after 26 years together.

The 43-year-old football legend made the announcement on Instagram, posting a black-and-white photo of Martina kissing him on the cheek.

“Martina and myself are sad to announce that we are separating after 26 years together. We remain best friends and immensely proud of our two children,” Čech wrote.

The pair met as teenagers in 1999 and married in June 2003. They have two children, Adela, 17, who plays for the Czech Republic’s U-17 women’s team, and Damian, 16, a goalkeeper who recently signed his first professional contract with Fulham.

Čech, who joined Chelsea from Rennes in 2004 for £7 million, made 494 appearances for the Blues, winning four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, and the UEFA Champions League in 2012. He later moved to Arsenal in 2015, adding another FA Cup before retiring in 2019.

Since hanging up his football gloves, the former Czech Republic captain has played ice hockey as a goalkeeper and worked as Chelsea’s technical and performance advisor until 2022, when he left after Todd Boehly’s takeover.