Čech wins Czech Republic player of the year award
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Article summary
Chelsea FC keeper Petr Čech has equalled the award tally of former Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedvěd after being voted the Czech Republic player of the year for the fourth time.
Article top media content
Article body
Chelsea FC goalkeeper Petr Čech has been voted the Czech Republic player of the year by experts, coaches and international players for the fourth time.
The 28-year-old former AC Sparta Praha and Stade Rennais FC custodian collects the Football Association of the Czech Republic (ČMFS) award for the third year in succession, equalling the tally of former Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedvěd. He has also won the media poll for the Czech Republic Golden Ball on five occasion.
Čech is now just one ČMFS award shy of the record held by legendary former FK Dukla Praha goalkeeper Ivo Viktor, who was voted player of the year five times in the 1960s and 1970s. Arsenal FC midfielder Tomáš Rosický came second in the running for the 2010 prize, with Club Atlético de Madrid defender Tomáš Ujfaluši taking third place.
The run of impressive autumn results by Čech's former club FC Viktoria Plzeň, the surprise First League leaders, was also rewarded with the 2010 team of the year accolade, while the mastermind of that success, Pavel Vrba, was named coach of the year. Sparta striker Václav Kadlec claimed the young player of the year honours.
