Former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Čech has announced his separation from wife Martina after 26 years of marriage. The 43-year-old football legend shared the emotional news on Instagram, posting a black-and-white photo of Martina kissing him on the cheek. In his heartfelt post, Čech wrote, “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”.
The couple met as teenagers in 1999 and married in June 2003. They share two children, Adela, 17, who plays as a defender for the Czech Republic’s Under-17 national team, and Damian, 16, who recently signed his first professional contract with Fulham as a goalkeeper. Čech famously missed Adela’s birth in January 2008 while away with Chelsea for a League Cup semi-final against Everton, a match in which he did not play.
During his illustrious football career, Čech joined Chelsea from Rennes in 2004 for £7 million, making 494 appearances and winning multiple trophies, including 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 boots, Čech has ventured into ice hockey as a goalkeeper and served as Chelsea’s technical and performance advisor until 2022, when he left the role following Todd Boehly’s takeover of the club.
Despite their separation, Čech and his wife Martina will remain best friends and are proud of their two children. The news of their separation comes as a surprise to many, given their long-standing relationship and commitment to their family. As they embark on this new chapter in their lives, Čech and Martina will undoubtedly continue to prioritize their children’s well-being and happiness.
The separation of Petr Čech and his wife Martina marks the end of an era for the football legend and his family. As they navigate this new chapter, Čech’s focus will likely shift to his post-football endeavors, including his passion for ice hockey. Meanwhile, their children, Adela and Damian, will continue to pursue their own football careers, following in their father’s footsteps.
