Top 4 iconic goalkeepers of the 21st century

Petr Cech

Petr Cech holds the record for most clean sheets in Premier League history

Petr Cech may have not won as many trophies as the other three men on this list. He has also not found success on the national level with the Czech Republic like the other goalkeepers. But his exploits for Chelsea and his determination to return after a life-threatening injury earned him the right to be on the list.

Cech started his career in Viktoria Plzen but gained worldwide recognition in the Euro 2004. His performance for the Czech Republic helped them to reach the semi-finals of that tournament and earned him a place in the all-star team as the best goalkeeper.

Cech's performance with the Czech Republic in 2004 made the world take notice of him

Chelsea though had already seen something special in Cech and agreed to a deal with Rennes to bring the Czech to Stamford Bridge at the beginning of 2004. Cech became a fan favourite among the Chelsea fans with his saves and held a record for the highest number of minutes without conceding a goal.

He, along with the backline containing John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, formed an impregnable backline which propelled Chelsea to their first league title in more than 50 years during Jose Mourinho's first spell.

Cech plays with a headgear after a serious head injury in 2006

In 2006, Cech suffered an injury that might have ended up costing his life. He collided with Stephen Hunt of Reading during a Premier League match causing him to suffer a depressed skull injury which sidelined him for three months.

Cech though returned to play for Chelsea after the lay-off, sporting a now-famous rugby style head guard as protection. Though many players have returned from career-threatening injuries, Cech's bravery to jump into the thick of the action was widely applauded. He continued to perform at the highest level, helping the Blues to more titles and to their first Champions League trophy.

Cech left for rivals Arsenal in 2015 after being pushed down the pecking order in Chelsea. Though it was an unceremonious exit for a player like him, he is still considered a legend and commands respect from the Blues fans despite playing for a rival club. Cech went on to keep a record 200th clean sheet in the Premier League while at Arsenal.

At the age of 36, Cech could be nearing the end of his career, but he is arguably Chelsea's best goalkeeper. His perseverance to come back after a life-threatening injury and still perform at the highest standard is a lesson worth learning to anyone who wants to pursue a career in sports.