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Petr's the greatest: Bonetti
By Michael hart, Evening Standard Last updated at 00:00am on 04.03.05Some people think Petr Cech is the best goalkeeper in England. But Peter Bonetti reckons he is actually the world's No1. And Bonetti should know, for he spent 18 seasons in the Chelsea first team before pioneering the specialist art of coaching goalkeepers.
"It's beyond dispute that Cech is the No1 in the country and, to be honest, I think he's the best in the world," said the former Chelsea and England goalkeeper.
"What sets him apart is his consistency. He's consistently brilliant because he makes fewer mistakes. He's got everything a goalkeeper should have. He's got height, strength and courage.
"He's a great shot stopper, he can catch crosses all day and his distribution is outstanding. He's an all-rounder. I can't think of a weakness. He's focused even when he's not had much to do. Suddenly he'll have to make a great save and he does. That's all about concentration. He's very good, and he's only 22. I think he'll be around for a long time.
"Two years ago when he was with Rennes I was scouting for Manchester City and watched him play for the Czech Republic against Holland. I thought he was outstanding. When Chelsea got him, I knew he'd be a great investment."
A quarter of a century separates Bonetti's final game for Chelsea in 1979 from Cech's first against Manchester United in August - a 1-0 win and the first of an incredible 24 clean sheets this season.
"In some ways I think the job is easier for goalkeepers today," said Bonetti. "They're fitter, they're better looked after, they have better diets and medical care and they have coaches dedicated to improving their technique. I'd love to be playing today.
"They complain that the modern ball is lighter and flies about more, but you get used to that. The big advantage for goalkeepers today is they don't get whacked like we used to. I remember Bobby Smith flattening me the first time I played against Spurs. They called it a shoulder charge but it was more than that. We didn't get the protection modern goalkeepers enjoy."
Nor was match preparation as sophisticated as it is today. "We trained every morning from 10.30 for two hours," said Bonetti. "Then we'd have a shower and go home. Of course, in pre-season we trained morning and afternoon.
"From my point of view there was no specialised training for goalkeepers. The only time I was able to do specific goalkeeping work was when the manager organised shooting or crossing practice."
When he retired, Bonetti ran a guesthouse on a Scottish island for four years before returning to Chelsea as a coach. "Bob Wilson, Alan Hodgkinson and me were the first to introduce specialised coaching for goalkeepers," he said. "I remember Bob telling me I'd never make a living out of it."
Now 63, Bonetti is a goalkeeping guru who has played with and coached the very best over the last 45 years. His playing career spanned the great days of English goalkeeping - from Banks and Springett to Shilton and Clemence.
"There are good young English goalkeepers but they don't get much of a chance because of the influx of foreign players," he said. "I was just 18 when I was given my chance at Chelsea."
Known as "The Cat" in his playing days, he remains fit, lean and agile and earlier this week played before a 20,000 crowd in a benefit match for tsunami victims in Indonesia.
He's coached Chelsea's goalkeepers, England goalkeepers at senior and Under-21 level and worked with Kevin Keegan at Newcastle, Fulham and Manchester City. He's still scouting and would like to continue coaching on a part-time basis.
