Petr Čech separation news confirms the football legend and wife Martina are parting ways after 26 years, vowing to remain best friends

Petr Čech separation news has left fans reflecting on the personal life of one of football’s greatest goalkeepers, after the former Chelsea and Arsenal star confirmed he and wife Martina are parting ways following 26 years together.

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The 43-year-old shared the announcement on Instagram on Thursday, alongside a black-and-white photo of Martina kissing him on the cheek.

“Martina and I are saddened to share that we are separating after 26 years together. We remain best friends and are incredibly proud of our two children,” he wrote.

Čech and Martina met as teenagers in 1999 and tied the knot in 2003. They have two children Adela, 17, and Damian, 16. In January 2008,

Čech famously missed Adela’s birth while on Chelsea duty for a League Cup semi-final against Everton — a match in which he did not play.

During his glittering career, Čech joined Chelsea from Rennes in 2004 for £7 million, making 494 appearances and winning four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, and the 2012 UEFA Champions League.

He later moved to Arsenal in 2015, securing another FA Cup before retiring in 2019.

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Since retirement, Čech has turned to ice hockey as a goalkeeper and worked as Chelsea’s technical and performance advisor until 2022, stepping down after Todd Boehly’s takeover.