Čech wins award from journalists for 12th time

Goalkeeper Petr Čech has won the Golden Ball for Czech footballer of the year for the 12th time. The prize is decided by a poll of journalists. Čech, who turned 36 on Sunday, finished ahead of midfielder Antonín Barák of Italian club Udinese and Pavel Kadeřábek, a defender with Hoffenheim.

Last season the Arsenal man became the first goalkeeper in the English Premier League to achieve 200 clean sheets. Though now retired from the international game, he is the most capped Czech ever with 124 appearances.