@SpursOfficial
Tue 09 December 2025, 09:00| Tottenham Hotspur
One night in north London taught Slavia Prague’s goalkeeper coach Radek Cerny exactly what it means to play for Spurs.
A goalkeeper for us between 2005 and 2008, right at the start of a period of significant growth for the Club, Radek was a part of the squad that famously lifted the 2008 League Cup, but it was a certain night in the run to that triumph which the shot stopper still looks back on as one of his most enjoyable during his time at White Hart Lane.
While he only made 28 appearances across his three-and-a-half years in north London, two of those came in the semi-finals of the then Carling Cup as we faced off against Arsenal, including a start in our delectable 5-1 second-leg win at the Lane which saw us through to the Wembley final.
An own goal plus strikes from Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Lennon, Robbie Keane and Steed Malbranque saw us dominate the Gunners on our own turf to dump them out of the competition and book our place in the spring showpiece, and that is a night Radek - who is now a goalkeeping coach at Tuesday’s Champions league opposition Slavia - will never forget as it showed him just how much a north London derby win means to us.
"It really was an incredible night for everyone associated with Spurs - the players, the supporters, the staff – as we won 5-1 and got through to the final,” the Slavia Prague legend recalled. "The atmosphere was unbelievable. I could feel what that victory meant to the fans!
"It was obviously a big derby match, and I can remember some of the English players like Ledley King telling me it had been a little while since Spurs had last beaten Arsenal. So, people enjoyed the victory even more!"
Despite starting both semi-final legs and featuring in every Premier League game in the lead up to the final, Paul Robinson was favoured in goal by manager Juande Ramos for what was the first League Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium.
"It was disappointing not to be playing," Radek said. "Every footballer wants to play the final game, especially at Wembley Stadium. But what was more important was to get the win.
"I can remember Jonathan Woodgate’s winning goal. It was fantastic to win the trophy and also to know by February of that year that we had already qualified for the UEFA Cup for the following season."
Now a goalkeeping coach for Tuesday's Champions League opponents, Slavia, for whom he made over 200 appearances across two spells, our former goalkeeper is excited to return to N17.
"Everyone associated with Slavia Prague is very excited about the prospect of this match. The new stadium is fantastic, and we can’t wait to go there with Slavia.
"Of course, on a personal level, it’ll be a special game for me, going back to my former club and seeing old faces."