Former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has revealed that he and his wife, Martina, have separated after 26 years together.
The 43-year-old shared the news in an emotional statement posted to Instagram on Thursday, accompanied by a black-and-white photo of the couple, in which Martina is seen kissing him on the cheek.
“Martina and myself are sad to announce that we are separating after 26 years together,” he wrote. “We remain best friends and immensely proud of our two children.”
Cech and Martina met as teenagers in their native Czech Republic and married in 2003, shortly before his move to English football. Martina was a constant presence throughout his illustrious playing career, which saw him win multiple Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea, before a spell at Arsenal and a return to Stamford Bridge in a technical role.
The couple have two children, Adela (17) and Damian (16), both of whom are pursuing careers in football. Adela plays as a defender for Fulham and represents the Czech Republic at Under-17 level.
Cech remains a respected figure in football, both for his achievements on the pitch and his contributions in the game following retirement.
