BIG PETE: The Transformation of Data in Football – What Role Would Cech Play in Today’s Game?

Jonathan Whitmore highlighted one of the initial instances where analytics became visible to audiences during live matches: “Many goalkeepers, particularly in penalty shootouts, rely on this. A notable example is Jens Lehmann at the 2006 World Cup. Just before the penalties began, he was provided with a note detailing the penalty takers and their preferred shooting locations. Even Jordan Pickford employs this method, and whenever he saves a penalty, it’s invariably due to the insights found on his water bottle.”

Petr Čech has responded to critics who labelled him a “dinosaur” and insisted that his playing style wouldn’t align with modern football, particularly with claims he relied solely on long kicks. “If you analyse my short pass percentage, I consistently surpassed the league average for goalkeepers every single season. Yet, some still believe that because I played ten years ago, I wouldn’t fit into the contemporary game. I found that amusing—when I had the ball at my feet, I relished the chance to engage more and contribute to the build-up play,” explained the Premier League icon.

The complete television version of this episode from the Big Pete documentary series will be accessible on CANAL+ Sport and the CANAL+ streaming service in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Poland, Myanmar, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Romania, and Hungary, along with SuperSport in South Africa and Switzerland.