Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has looked back on the serious head injury he suffered two decades ago, explaining how the frightening incident transformed his life and led to lasting improvements in player safety in English football.
The incident happened on October 14, 2006, when Cech was playing for Chelsea during Jose Mourinho’s first spell as manager. The then 24-year-old goalkeeper suffered a devastating collision with Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt during the opening minute of their Premier League encounter at the Madejski Stadium.
Cech collapsed after the impact and was taken to the Radcliffe Infirmary’s specialist neurosurgical unit in Oxford. Doctors performed emergency surgery to treat a depressed skull fracture, inserting two titanium plates into his head.
Despite the severity of the injury, the Czech Republic international returned to action just 98 days later, resuming a successful career that saw him win several major honours.
However, the incident permanently changed his appearance on the pitch. Cech wore protective headgear throughout the remainder of his playing career before retiring in 2019.
The injury also prompted significant improvements in medical preparedness across English football. These included specialist pitchside medical teams trained to deal with head and brain injuries, dedicated ambulances for players and match officials, and standard procedures for the immediate assessment of suspected concussions.
Twenty years after the incident, the 44-year-old shared an emotional message on Instagram, reflecting on the difficult experience and the lessons he gained from it.
“Yesterday it was 20 years since the ‘famous’ Reading away game. I kept this post for today as everyone seemed to be talking about it yesterday.
“It is undeniably the day that greatly impacted the Premier League, football fans, my closest and of course myself. After 20 years there are many ways to look at it but let’s put the whole story into perspective..
“The recovery was hard at the beginning and I had big doubts sometimes, I would return to playing, but I have learnt some valuable lessons along the journey.”
Cech explained that the experience taught him to appreciate life and recognise the importance of making the most of every opportunity. He also highlighted how the incident contributed to changes that improved the welfare of footballers.
“The iconic helmet was born. The Premier League changed the rules around the player’s medical safety and the paramedics were present attended every game ever since (and saved many lives in the process).
“To conclude my thoughts, I would like to say thank you again to the medical teams and the Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for giving me the chance to live and allowing me to carry on playing the game I loved, break some records and made millions of fans happy through winning trophies.. and the most precious part – I could become a father.
“So people remember that even in difficult moments you can find hidden gems that are worth every effort.”
The former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper also reflected on the personal milestones he achieved after recovering, particularly the opportunity to raise a family.
Cech has two children, both of whom are pursuing football careers in Fulham’s academy. His 17-year-old daughter, Adela, plays as a defender and has represented the Czech Republic at Under-17 level, while his 16-year-old son, Damian, is a goalkeeper.
The two children were born during his marriage to Martina, whom he had been with for 26 years before the couple separated in 2025.
Cech also addressed his former opponent Hunt, with whom he collided during the Reading match, indicating that the two had agreed not to dwell on the incident.
“We agreed not to talk about it too much and leave it behind us.. we keep the word. Wish you all the best. Big Pete.”
Two decades later, the incident remains one of the most significant moments in Cech’s career, not only because of the threat it posed to his life but also because of the changes it helped bring to medical safety standards in football.
