Thanks to extraordinary careers at the pinnacle of English football, Premier League stars Petr Cech and Gareth Barry have both won places in the much-coveted Guinness World Records 2017 book, which is out now.
Throughout a glittering career, playing for two of the country’s biggest clubs in Chelsea (04 – 15) and now Arsenal, Czech Republic stopper Petr has kept 181 clean sheets while playing in in English football’s top division, a feat that has earned him the record for Most clean sheets in the Premier League by a football (soccer) goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, Gareth has made a career out of being consistent. Since making his debut at the age of 17 at Aston Villa, he has started 580 games, making him the title holder for Most starts for a Premier League football (soccer) player.
We put the two player’s knowledge of the Premier League to the test, with a tough quiz based on record-holding footballers who play or have played in the English top flight.
To find who comes out on top, as well as seeing Gareth reaction when we reveal also holds a another somewhat unwanted record, check out the video in the player below.
Petr achieved his record-breaking 174th clean sheet on 28 December 2015 during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Bournemouth, taking him clear of retired England goalkeeper David James.
In our exclusive interview below, the 34-year-old reveals the similarities between iconic managers Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger, how he transitioned from striker to goalkeeper as a teenager and his most memorable match.
Like Petr, Gareth made his way into the record books by breaking a record previously held by David James, after notching up his 572nd start v Sunderland on 11 May 2016 (James finished his Premier League career with 571 starts).
Gareth recently became only the third player to reach 600 appearances in the Premier League, joining Ryan Giggs and Frank Lampard at the top of the all-time appearances list.
In another exclusive interview below, the 35-year-old former Manchester City midfielder reveals the secrets to his consistency as well as how his mum put him off “the bright lights of London”, advising him to choose Aston Villa over Arsenal, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
Other high profile sports stars to feature in in Guinness World Records 2017 include:
• Max Verstappen: Youngest driver to win a Formula One World Championship race – 18 years and 228 days at the Spanish Grand Prix, in May 2016
• Jordan Spieth: Highest earnings in a PGA season - $12,030,465 (£7,851,960) in 2015
• Novak Djokovic: Most prize money won in a tennis season - $21,646,145 (£14,600,200) in 2015
• Leicester City: Largest rise in position in the Premier League, in consecutive seasons – 13 places, 14th to 1st
• Adam Peaty: Fastest long course 100 m breaststroke – now 57.13 seconds set in Rio (was 57.92 sec when book was printed)
• Cristiano Ronaldo: Most followed athlete on Twitter – 47,262,909*** (as of 7 October 2016)
• Serena Williams: Longest span of grand slam titles (open era): 1999 to 2016
• Stuart Broad: Fastest five-wicket haul in a Test Match (balls bowled) – 19 balls v Australia, August 2015
• US women’s soccer legend Carli Lloyd: Most goals in a FIFA Women’s World Cup final – 3 v Japan in July 2015. Fastest goal in a FIFA Women’s World Cup final – 3 minutes. Oldest goal-scorer in a FIFA Women’s World Cup final – 32 years and 354 days old
• Holly Holm: First athlete to win boxing and MMA world titles – WBA welterweight title in 2006, UFC bantamweight title in 2015
Guinness World Records 2017 Edition is out now, and is a must have for knowledge seekers and aspiring record breakers of all ages.
Additionally, the Guinness World Records 2017 Gamer’s Edition is also out now. The authority on all things record-breaking in the world of interactive entertainment, the new book features titles from the biggest video game franchises in existence!