CECH OUT THE BILLBOARD

The Czech Republic and Chelsea No 1 Petr Cech has surprisingly become one of the most popular faces for marketing brands worldwide.

There was a time when only the most creative, or high profile footballers were able to cash in by adding their name or face to a product. Think George Best, Kevin Keegan, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo etc.

But goalkeeper Petr Cech has thrown out the old rule book and is raising the profile of the men between the sticks. He’s fast becoming one of the most sought after and richest faces in the game.

Let’s take a look at who’s shooting the cash at Petr Cech.

Petr Cech Goalkeeper

Cech signed for Chelsea from French club Rennes in 2004 for a fee of £7 million. He started out as backup to Carlo Cudicini, but it didn’t take him long to claim the first team shirt. Often considered the best goalkeeper on the planet, Cech signed a new contract with the club earlier this year which will see him in the Chelsea shirt, sponsored by Samsung and made by Adidas, until 2013.

Chelsea Salary £5.2 million a year

Petr Cech Football Boots

You’d expect one of the world’s top goalkeepers in today’s game to have a boot contract. Petr Cech is one of the main faces of Adidas and wears the PredatorPower Swerve football boot.

adidas Sponsorship Deal £3.5 million a year

Petr Cech Goalkeepers Gloves

Another given for modern day goalkeepers. Again Cech is in Adidas product, which he has been since his switch from Lotto gloves at the beginning of the 2007-08 season. Cech wears the Adidas Response Pro goalkeeper glove.

Part of the Adidas Sponsorship Deal £3.5 million a year

Petr Cech Head Gear

Cech needed emergency surgery after a collision with Stephen Hunt back in 2006, following which he was advised to wear a protective helmet, something which is now synonymous with the player. When playing for Chelsea, Cech is seen in an Adidas branded helmet, whilst playing for his country Cech’s head gear is unbranded due to contractual reasons.

Part of the Adidas Sponsorship Deal £3.5 million a year

Petr Cech Samsung

Earlier this year Cech extended a personal contract with Chelsea sponsors Samsung. Samsung have recently partnered with Cech’s other sponsor Adidas on a new mobile phone which Cech has been seen plugging.

' Samsung Sponsorship Deal £1.5 million a year

Petr Cech Coty Fragrance

Just this week Cech signed a new commercial deal with fragrance company Coty to promote Adidas men’s active skincare products. Expect 26 year old Cech to smell sweet, maintain his youth and of course maintain the bulging bank balance.

Estimated Coty Sponsorship Deal £0.5 million a year

' Petr Cech Estimated Annual Income – £10.7 million

Not bad for a player who at the age of 10, had to move from a centre forward role to goalkeeper, after breaking his spinal chord!