Key Points
- Slavia Prague’s goalkeeper coach Radek Cerny, formerly a Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper from 2005 to 2008, recalls the 5-1 victory over Arsenal in the 2008 League Cup semi-final second leg at White Hart Lane as an “incredible night” that defined playing for Spurs.
- Cerny started in that match, contributing to Spurs’ progression to the Wembley final where they won the trophy, ending a nine-year drought.
- Goals in the 5-1 win came from Jermaine Jenas, an own goal by Nicklas Bendtner, Robbie Keane, Aaron Lennon, and Steed Malbranque, with Emmanuel Adebayor scoring Arsenal’s consolation.
- Cerny describes the atmosphere as “unbelievable” and notes English players like Ledley King mentioning it had been a while since Spurs last beat Arsenal, heightening the joy.
- Now returning to N17 (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium) with Slavia Prague for a Champions League match on 9 December 2025, Cerny expresses excitement about the new stadium and seeing old faces.
- Cerny’s Tottenham career included 28 appearances, part of a growth period, and he also recalls the League Cup final win with Jonathan Woodgate’s extra-time goal.
- Historical context: Cerny joined Spurs on loan from Slavia in 2005, later made permanent, and played key roles despite limited starts.
- Slavia Prague head-to-head with Tottenham shows Spurs with three wins and one draw historically in UEFA competitions.
Inverted Pyramid Structure
As reported by the Tottenham Hotspur official website team on 9 December 2025, Slavia Prague’s goalkeeper coach Radek Cerny has shared vivid memories of an “incredible night” at White Hart Lane ahead of his return to north London for the Champions League clash against Tottenham Hotspur. The Czech coach, who played for Spurs between 2005 and 2008, highlighted the 5-1 semi-final second-leg victory over Arsenal in the 2008 League Cup as a defining moment that illustrated the passion of playing for the club. Cerny started in that match on 22 January 2008, helping Spurs advance 6-2 on aggregate to the final, which they won 2-1 after extra time against Chelsea.
Who is Radek Cerny and What Was His Tottenham Tenure?
Radek Černý, born 18 February 1974 in Prague, began his professional career at Slavia Prague in 1993, making over 150 appearances and winning domestic cups in 1999 and 2002 before moving to England. As detailed in Wikipedia’s entry on Černý, he joined Tottenham Hotspur on an 18-month loan in January 2005 from Slavia, which was extended until 2008 to replace Kasey Keller, debuting in a 5-1 win over Aston Villa. During his three-and-a-half years at White Hart Lane, Černý made 28 appearances, including two in the League Cup semi-finals against Arsenal.
According to the Tottenham Hotspur official site, Černý was part of the squad during a significant growth period for the club, culminating in the 2008 League Cup triumph. ESPN’s match report from 22 January 2008 lists Černý as the starting goalkeeper (number 12) alongside defenders Pascal Chimbonda, Michael Dawson, Ledley King, and Lee Young-Pyo, with midfielders including Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddlestone, and Steed Malbranque, and forwards Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov. He displaced Paul Robinson for the Arsenal first leg but was replaced after an error in a UEFA Cup match.
What Made the 5-1 Win Over Arsenal So Memorable?
As reported by the Tottenham Hotspur official website,
“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!”
Cerny added.
“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!”.
Wikipedia’s account of the 2008 Football League Cup final confirms the semi-final details: in the second leg at White Hart Lane, Jermaine Jenas scored inside three minutes, followed by Nicklas Bendtner’s own goal for a 2-0 half-time lead; Robbie Keane and Aaron Lennon extended it, Emmanuel Adebayor pulled one back for Arsenal, and Steed Malbranque sealed 5-1 (6-2 aggregate) in the final minute. This marked Spurs’ first win over Arsenal in any competition since November 1999. ESPN notes the timeline: Jenas at 3′, Bendtner OG at 27′, Keane at 48′, Lennon at 60′, Adebayor at 70′, and Malbranque at 90+4′.
How Did Tottenham Win the 2008 League Cup?
Cerny also reminisced about the final, stating on the Tottenham site,
“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”.
Wikipedia details the 24 February 2008 Wembley final: Chelsea led 1-0 via Didier Drogba’s 39′ free kick, but Dimitar Berbatov equalised from a penalty at 70′ after Wayne Bridge’s handball; Jonathan Woodgate headed the winner in extra time at 94′ off a Jermaine Jenas free kick rebounding off Petr Čech. Attendance was 87,660, with Mark Halsey refereeing; Spurs ended a nine-year trophy drought and secured UEFA Cup qualification despite finishing 11th in the Premier League.
The road to Wembley for Spurs included wins over Middlesbrough (2-0), Blackpool (2-0), Manchester City (2-0), and Arsenal (6-2 aggregate), as per Wikipedia. Černý was on the bench for the final, with Paul Robinson starting.
Why Is Cerny’s Return to N17 Significant?
Now goalkeeping coach at Slavia Prague since September 2018 (contract until June 2026), per WorldFootball.net, Cerny is excited for the Champions League match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. As quoted on the Tottenham Hotspur site,
“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,” he added.
Historical ties include UEFA head-to-head: Tottenham 3 wins, 1 draw over Slavia Prague, with 5-2 goals aggregate. A recent Tottenham Facebook post welcomed Cerny to Hotspur Way, pictured with Goalkeeper Coach Rob Burch. Separately, Antonin Kinsky credited Cerny’s advice to join Spurs, as per Tottenham’s January 2025 article.
What Lies Ahead for Slavia and Spurs?
The match on 9 December 2025 pits Cerny’s Slavia against his former club in the Champions League group stage. CERNý’s career post-Spurs included Queens Park Rangers (2008-2013, Championship win 2010-11) and a 2013-14 return to Slavia, retiring in 2014. He earned three Czech senior caps (2000-2002) and 11 U21 caps.
