ANKARA

A retired Czech goalkeeper, Petr Cech has become an ice hockey player late Wednesday to be a part of English team Guildford Phoenix.

"Petr Cech signs with the Phoenix... The ex-professional footballer will begin his ice hockey career this Sunday when he makes his debut for the Phoenix!," Guildford Phoenix said on Twitter.

It said that Cech, 37, will play as an ice hockey goalie in the lower division club.

"After 20 years of professional football, this is going to be a wonderful experience for me to play the game I loved to watch and play as a kid," Cech said.

Cech is a former Chelsea veteran who he moved to the London club from France's Rennes in 2004.

The Czech regular played for Chelsea from 2004 to 2015.

During his 11-year spell at Chelsea, Cech won the UEFA Champions League title in 2012 and the UEFA Europa League title in 2013.

He also helped Chelsea win four English Premier League titles in 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2015.

In 2015 summer Cech moved to another London club Arsenal and played for the Gunners until his retirement in 2019.

Cech had 124 appearances for the Czech Republic national team, playing in Euro 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 as well as the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

In June 2019, Cech returned Chelsea as technical and performance advisor and is expected to serve for the Blues.