ALBION signed versatile left-back Cech from Porto in a £1.4million deal, in July 2008.

The Slovakia international put pen to paper on a three-year Baggies contract, plus a further year's option in the club's favour, after linking up with his new team-mates on their pre-season tour of Holland and Germany.

He was restrcited to six starts and five substitute appearances last term as Paul Robinson was preferred by Tony Mowbray at left-back.

But he produced a sparkling display in the 2-0 home win over Tottenham - one of Albion's eight Barclays Premier League victories.

He finished the season by bagging a first-half brace in a 7-0 win against San Marino to help his country climb to the top of World Cup Qualifying Group Three.

Cech, who can also play left-midfield, helped Porto win the 2007/08 league title and reach the Champions League last-16 last term where they were knocked out by FC Schalke on penalties.

The 6ft1in defender represented his country from Under-19s to Under-21s level and prior to joining Albion had scored three times in 29 senior appearances since making his full international debut against Japan in the 2004 Kirin Cup.

During the Euro 2008 qualifiers Cech netted a brace in a 5-0 win over San Marino in November and two months earlier notched a 90th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Ireland.

He came through the junior ranks at ASK Inter Bratislava and made his professional debut during the club's 2000/01 Slovakian league and cup double success.

In July 2004 he joined Sparta Prague where he enjoyed his first taste of Champions League football and won the Czech Republic league in his first season.

A move to Porto followed just 12 months later where he became part of the side to win the three successive Portuguese league titles and the 2005/06 Portuguese Cup and Super Cup.

Before moving to England, Cech had made 141 career league appearances, including 25 as a substitute, scoring three times.

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(LAST UPDATED ON JUNE 25, 2009)