Author, singer, artists, footballers: Chelsea players’ off-pitch talents and pursuits

3. Petr Cech: Goalkeeper / Drummer

While Chelsea obsess over the rhythmic passing of their midfield metronome Jorginho, few Blues of any era can drive the beat as well as Petr Cech. When he is not between the posts – which, sadly, is not often anymore – Cech takes the drum sticks out of his kit bag (he always keeps a pair handy) and plays his drum pad if he is on the road or sits behind his drum set at home.

Cech first picked up the sticks as part of a Guitar Hero trio with his fellow Chelsea goalkeepers Carlo Cudicini and Hilario. The older two keepers took the guitars, leaving Cech on the drums. Realizing that he liked it and deciding he wanted to do it properly – and inspired by Cudicini’s piano skills – Cech bought the real thing and set to work.

His YouTube videos mostly show him playing to tracks from U2, the Foo Fighters, Incubus and pretty much anything else. But he has also played at Czech music festivals, had a session with Queen drummer and Chelsea fan Roger Taylor, and has talked about going further as a drummer once he is done with football.