Summary
Petr Cech once named five goalkeeping legends he considered above all others in football history.
Cech highlighted two Manchester United icons in his list.
Each goalkeeper mentioned influenced Cech's career in different ways, inspiring him to reach new heights.
For most people, Petr Cech is among the most elite goalkeepers to have ever put on a pair of gloves. The Czech Republic star finds himself in the same bracket as legends such as the Ballon d'Or-winning Lev Yashin and modern-day greats such as Manuel Neuer.
With more Premier League clean sheets than anyone else, it is easy to understand why the Chelsea icon is so revered, with his achievements being all the more impressive considering he had to overcome a potential career-ending injury while at the peak of his powers.
As is the case with any footballer, there are those they look up to, past and present, whom they acknowledge as being people who both inspired them growing up and pushed them to reach new levels. And back in 2018, Cech named the five shot-stoppers from football history that he rated above all else.
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Peter Schmeichel
Notable clubs: Manchester United, Aston Villa, Manchester City
Starting things off with a goalkeeper who had an equally commanding presence between the sticks as Cech, the former Arsenal man opted for Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel. The 'Great Dane' was a crucial part of the domestic domination at Old Trafford in the 1990s, while he also played pivotal roles in European success for both club and country.
"I had a few inspirations in terms of goalkeeping and it was, let’s say the goalkeeping giants in the years I was growing up. I would start with Peter Schmeichel," Cech stated. "He was always a huge influence the team, he made big saves and I think the way he played the game was ahead of his time. He was one of my role models. I tried to think that if I could have the same influence on the team, it would be beneficial."
Edwin Van Der Sar
Notable clubs: Ajax, Juventus, Manchester United
From one United legend to another, Cech also had high praise for Dutchman Edwin van der Sar. Though the 6'6" shot-stopper was one of the best of his generation, he faced some difficult times in his career which saw him make an unlikely move to Fulham prior to his career renaissance at Manchester United, which cemented him as one of the best even into his forties.
"The moment Ajax started using him as an extra defender, I realised this was probably the future of the game," Cech explained. "It made me think that I need to work on my feet and make sure that if I’m playing in a team that use me like that, I’d be able to cope with it."
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Oliver Kahn
Notable clubs: Bayern Munich
Moving away from the Premier League, Cech spoke of how his affinity for watching the Bundesliga growing up led to a fondness for one of the most ferocious goalkeepers to have ever played the game – that being Oliver Kahn.
"I probably saw more Bayern Munich games at that time, because Germany borders the Czech Republic. The Bundesliga was probably the league I watched the most, so I saw a lot of Oliver Kahn, with his presence, his charisma and his concentration," Cech explained. "You could see he was a fighter, someone who did everything for the team to win. You realise that you need people like that on the pitch to be successful."
Gianluigi Buffon
Notable clubs: Parma, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain
While the previous three were arguably at their strongest in an era just before Cech emerged as a quality 'keeper in his own right, the final two were constantly competing with him for the honour of being seen as the best. The first of those was Gianluigi Buffon, who the Czech Republic star couldn't help but tip his protective cap to.
"The next one is Gianluigi Buffon. He was only 17 when I saw him playing with Parma against Sparta Prague. When you look at someone playing so well at the age of 17, you realise that it’s not always about experience and being a certain age. I think it showed to everyone that it’s more about being at the top of your performance and being ready. He gave me the motivation to work hard and get my chance, no matter how old I was."
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Iker Casillas
Notable clubs: Real Madrid, Porto
Finally, Cech opted to include Real Madrid and Spanish legend Iker Casillas. From being a youngster breaking into the Madrid team that would win multiple Champions Leagues, to cementing his legacy as his country's number one during their period of dominance in international football, it is impossible to argue with Casillas' inclusion.
"The confirmation came straight away with Iker Casillas, who started playing for Real Madrid at the age of 17, Cech recalled. "He’s only one year older than me. I was 16 when he started playing for Real Madrid and there was a realisation that if this guy could play for a top Spanish team at that age, why couldn’t I do it with a Czech team?"
All statistics courtesy of the Premier League - accurate as of 06/06/2025.