PETR CECH IS PLAYER OF THE YEAR AGAIN

Arsenal first choice goalkeeper PetrCech has been awarded the best player in the Czech Republic setup yet again. This time the player makes it a record nine times.

The former Chelsea player topped the poll where coaches and players, revered journalists and the football association officials voted for the most outstanding players of the year.

Cech led the team to the European championship in France last year, making a record 124 caps in a Czech Republic shirt. However, he retired from international football after the tournament to focus solely on club football.

At the award ceremony in Prague Castle, he was labeled the Czech Footballer of the Year for a record time. The award considers Czech players in the country and abroad. It is a tradition the Football Association of the Czech Republic have maintained since its inception in 1965 – then for the whole of Czechoslovakia.

Goalkeeper Ivo Viktor held the record of the most wins by a Czech player but Cech broke the record in 2012 when he won it for a new record six times. Cech retained the award the next year but David Lafata of Sparta Prague clinched the award in 2014 to temporarily disrupt Cech’s run since 2008. Cech reclaimed the award in 2015 and 2016 before he made it nine times in March.

Legend PavelNedved won the award four times in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2004. Tomas Rosicky picked up the honours three times: 2001, 2002 and 2006.

This year, Cech saw off competition from Hertha Berlin star VladmirDarida who followed. Former Sparta Prague star BorekDockal was third place.