César Azpilicueta is set to retire from professional football this Saturday in Vigo, bringing an end to a career defined by commitment and a relentless pursuit of challenges. With over 800 matches played and 12 titles won, the player, who debuted with Osasuna as a minor, will play his final professional match.
Azpilicueta feels he has exceeded his initial dreams.
Debut and Early Career
Azpilicueta’s LaLiga debut arrived on April 8, 2007, in a Real Madrid-Osasuna match. From there, he began a two-decade career marked by consistency, commitment, and leadership. He won titles with Olympique de Marseille and with the Spanish national youth teams. He made his debut with the senior Spanish national team on February 6, 2013, in a match between Uruguay and Spain.
Across all levels, he accumulated 103 appearances for Spain and participated in more than 40 international matches and three World Cups.
Triumph at Chelsea
His peak came with Chelsea. In 2021, Azpilicueta captained the London club to Champions League victory, becoming the first Spanish captain to lift both the Champions League and Europa League trophies with a foreign club. He ranks as the sixth-highest appearance maker in Chelsea’s history.
He played 268 consecutive games without missing a call-up, and was included in the club’s all-time XI. In 2021, he was nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
Premier League Record
Azpilicueta left a mark in the Premier League. He was the fifth player in history to win the championship while playing every minute. Between 2013 and 2019, he was the outfield player in Europe with the most appearances.
Azpilicueta said that this season would be the last of his career as a professional footballer, feeling that the moment has arrived to begin a new phase after so many years fulfilling his dream.
Azpilicueta added that he found it difficult to write his announcement, even after trying to prepare himself. He is grateful for every moment, including the victories, the defeats, the challenges, and especially the people he has met and the friendships he has made during his twenty seasons as a professional.
Azpilicueta will conclude his professional football career in Vigo with over 800 matches and 12 titles.