THE MAGAZINE FOR THE GOALKEEPING PROFESSION SUMMER 2019 Featuring: Petr Cech Asmir Begovic Ben & Jak Alnwick Andrew Sparkes Xavi Valero Tony Roberts GK1 Statistics Kid Gloves Equipment CRAIG GORDON - client #CreatingChampions Welcome to The magazine exclusively for the professional goalkeeping community. Andy Evans editorial Welcome to the Summer Each office launch has been accompanied by an expanding client 2019 edition of GK1 - list of top-class goalkeepers delighted to join our goalkeeper the magazine for the specialist agency. professional goalkeeping market. Since our last edition, we have also cemented our position as the pre-eminent agency for goalkeeper statistics and analytics. Our GK1 Magazine is published expanding team, led by Sam Jackson, has provided high level by GK1 Management, the work for clubs looking to recruit goalkeepers and players alike, to Andy Evans - Chairman of World in Motion / GK1 goalkeeper specific and which Petr Cech is included (seeking to review his own personal specialist agency, which statistical output). Indeed, this edition of GK1 is the first to contain is part of the World in Motion Group, a leading global agency a detailed statistics section. specialising in representing football players. Additionally, our tailor-made internal ‘App’ which brings all of In the past few years the agency has extended its already far our global agents, players and clubs together on one platform reaching network by opening offices in exciting new territories facilitating the transfer and recruitment of goalkeepers and such as the USA, Colombia, Czech Republic, Scandinavia, coaches, is the envy of clubs and rival agencies alike. Slovenia, Serbia, Greece and Italy. We have also opened a second UK office in Cardiff, as a satellite office to our Head Office in Here’s to a prosperous and successful end to 2019! With GK1 London. Management on your side, your future is in safe hands. C O N T E N T S Welcome to GK1 3 GK1 Management Petr Cech 4 Chancery House 1 Lochaline Street Ben & Jak Alnwick 8 London, W6 9SJ Kid Gloves 12 +44 (0) 20 8741 6060 www.gk1.co.uk Statistics 14 Publisher Coaching – Andrew Sparkes 22 World in Motion Ltd Coaching – Tony Roberts 26 Editor-in-Chief Andy Evans Coaching – Xavi Valero 28 Deputy Editor Essential Equipment 32 Ben Read Outside the Box – Danny Naisbitt 40 Graphic Design Tim Alexander Meet the Team 42 SUMMER 2019 3 P E T R The Premier League changed forever with CECHthe blockbuster arrivals of Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. Free-spending Blues owner Abramovich and charismatic Portuguese manager Mourinho began plotting the Stamford Bridge outfit’s ascent to the summit of English and European football when they joined forces in 2004 and to many, it was immediately obvious they would have success. Yet few would have predicted a quiet Chelsea newcomer called Petr Cech would not only play a huge part in that success, but also spearhead a new era for goalkeepers and become one of the greatest players to stand between the posts in modern times. The deal for the Czech Republic international was completed in February 2004, when he was aged just 21, and the fresh-faced Cech arrived at Chelsea in the following summer, just after his twenty-second birthday. The transfer sum was a modest £12 million and the new arrival was ready to battle it out with then established Blues No.1 Carlo Cudicini. The rest, as they say, is history. “My first memory of arriving at Chelsea was realising the fact I managed to get to a club like this,” said GK1 cover star Cech. “I’d realised a dream to play in the top league in the world and for one of the best teams as well so when I walked through the doors I had a special feeling. 4 SUMMER 2019 “I was proud but nervous at the same For the first time in many years, Cech’s titles, one Champions League, and five FA CECHtime because I knew now was the time instantly recognisable head guard will be Cups which adorn his trophy cabinet. to do something, to take the opportunity, nowhere to be seen when the 2019-20 and make the most of it. You can see how Premier League season begins in August. Chelsea’s 2006 Premier League clash at much things have changed. I was a young Reading was barely underway when the promising goalkeeper and I was only 21 But if it was not for his iron will and Madejski Stadium fell silent. Cech’s life when Chelsea bought me. If the same determination to overcome the injury that and career hung in the balance after his thing happened exactly the same way forced him to don the protective gear, Cech head collided with Stephen Hunt, but he nowadays, the price would be completely would have retired sooner and would not was back just three months after the life- different.” have collected the four Premier League changing event which fractured his skull. SUMMER 2019 5 “The aim as soon as I set out on my road Then came the crowning jewel in Cech’s “Everyone gives feedback in a different to recovery was to get back playing as immaculate career. Abramovich had way which makes for a complete picture quickly as possible,” Cech said, recalling dreamed of a Champions League triumph of performance. the horror Reading clash. “The doctors since the day he came through the door at told me I shouldn’t play football for an the Bridge. “I always want things to be perfect. This entire year, but step by step I started is sometimes impossible, but it’s best to getting back into training and doing things That dream became reality when have the approach to try and be perfect. on the training pitch that were giving me Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich Mentality sets the top goalkeepers in the confidence. in the final of Europe’s biggest club world apart from the others. The best stay competition in 2012. “Didier Drogba’s concentrated and make the big saves in “I just wanted to prove to the coaches and winning penalty in that Champions the key moments of game no matter how doctors I was making progress and in the League final is probably the best difficult the game is.” end I came back after three months. It was moment of my career,” Cech said. completely unexpected and against all “Everyone knew that Chelsea had been “There are different pressures whether advice, but it was the right thing to do for waiting to win the Champions League you are playing for a team that dominates myself. for eight years. We kept trying but had possession or not, but it is those moments disappointments time after time. when you realise whether a goalkeeper is “I knew there were risks someone who can make the and there could have been team win or lose points.” health and mental issues, but I was really happy to Cech left Chelsea to get back on the pitch. That join Arsenal in 2015 and moment actually showed It was the transferred his winning me how much I love the habit to the Gunners with game.” whom he won one FA Cup. ultimate “ He hung up his gloves at Upon his much-anticipated the end of last season, but return, only Cech knew if his his story in football is far trademark bravery would from over. A new chapter is be unaffected by the life- moment when just beginning. changing clash. He quickly put aside any doubts he “ “I have taken my time to was ready and picked up we won it... think about the future,” he where he left off, playing a added. “One thing I would starring role in a stunning like to do is continue in run of 1,025 minutes football because it’s the without conceding a goal. game I know best.” Cech believes Chelsea’s impenetrable “It was the ultimate moment when we “I could probably have played for the next defence at the time represented their won it. Having that trophy in our hands two seasons, but there was a limit on how mentality under Mourinho. “The more you was a true reflection of how far we had far I could push my body. I have gained so don’t concede, the more it becomes normal come and what we had achieved as a much experience from playing under so to you. We went into every game thinking team.” many fantastic managers, I know so many we were not going to concede,” he said. different ways of working, and I would like Cech’s quest for perfection led him to to use that. “We weren’t thinking about the record or enlist the help of GK1’s world class analysis specifically about keeping a clean sheet, it service (see page 14 for more details). He “I like coaching and I would definitely like was just about going out there and doing would urge any goalkeeper aiming for to stay in football somehow and continue it again. It just kept going until we were the top to get a helping hand with their my journey in football.” over eleven games without conceding detailed performance feedback. “It’s so a goal. It’s not easy to do and it was useful when you use it in the right way Petr Cech commenced his new role as definitely a combination of a number of and the immediate feedback is so helpful Technical and Performance Advisor at things; the defence, the goalkeeper, and a because there are so many games within Chelsea FC on 1st July.