Petr Cech has announced he would be retiring at the end of the season after an incredible career.
Mourinho signed Cech shortly after arriving at Chelsea in 2004 and the stopper played a pivotal role in their first Premier League title success, keeping a staggering 15 clean sheets.
Cech has since gone on to win four Premier League titles, five FA Cups and the Champions League and Mourinho has sent a message to his former goalkeeper.
“I am honoured to have been the manager that, at such an early age, gave Petr a top Premier League number one shirt,” he told Sky Sports News.
“It’s a big loss for football but history can’t be deleted. Many congratulations on such an amazing career.”
Cech has confirmed he will call it a day at the end of the season after 20 years in professional football.
He has made 129 appearances for the Gunners after winning multiple trophies at rivals Chelsea.
Cech suffered a serious head injury in 2006 following a collision with Reading’s Stephen Hunt.
Hunt’s knee crashed into Cech’s head, leaving him with a fractured skull, but he returned to action four months later wearing what became his trademark protective headgear.
Cech became the first goalkeeper to keep 200 Premier League clean sheets in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Watford last season, during which he saved a penalty from Troy Deeney.
He is also the Czech Republic’s most capped player, making 124 appearances.
Cech is no longer first choice at Arsenal, with Bernd Leno preferred for most of this season so far, but the club were quick to pay their own tribute.
Arsenal tweeted: “For your consummate professionalism, for being the perfect role model, for the 50 clean sheets, for your honesty, your integrity and for your inspiring work with @AFC_Foundation, we want to say… Thank you, @PetrCech!”
