Cesc Fàbregas
Francesc Fàbregas Soler (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈsɛsk ˈfaβɾəɣəs]; Spanish: [ˈfaβɾeɣas]; born 4 May 1987) is a Spanish football manager and former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder. He is the current assistant coach of Como in the Italian Serie B.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Fàbregas and the second or maternal family name is Soler.
Fàbregas came through La Masia, Barcelona's youth academy, leaving at 16 when he was signed by Premier League club Arsenal in September 2003. Following injuries to key midfielders in the early part of the 2004–05 season, he went on establish himself in the team. He broke several of the club's records in the process, earning a reputation as one of the best players in his position, and won the FA Cup in 2005. He was also named in the UEFA Team of the Year twice and the PFA Team of the Year twice.
After a protracted transfer saga, Fàbregas left London in August 2011 to return to Barcelona in a deal worth up to £35 million. During his three-year spell at the Camp Nou, Fàbregas played alongside Xavi and Andrés Iniesta and won a La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and two Spanish Super Cups. He returned to London in June 2014 to Arsenal's cross-town rivals Chelsea for a fee of £30 million, and in his first year there he helped to secure League Cup and Premier League triumphs.
Internationally, Fàbregas made his debut for the Spanish national team in March 2006. He represented his country in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008, 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012, 2013 Confederations Cup, the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016. He was a key figure in Spain's European Championship victories in 2008 and 2012 and their 2010 World Cup triumph in which he supplied the pass for Andrés Iniesta's winning goal in the final. On 12 October 2015, Fàbregas earned his 100th cap for Spain.
Early years
Born in Arenys de Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia,[4][5] to Francesc Fàbregas Sr., who runs a property company, and Núria Soler, the owner of a pastry company, Fàbregas has supported FC Barcelona since childhood and went to his first match when he was nine months old with his grandfather.[6] He began his club football career with CE Mataró before being signed for Barcelona's La Masia youth academy aged ten in 1997.[7] His first coach, Señor Blai, reportedly did not select Fàbregas for matches against Barcelona in an attempt to hide him from their scouts.[8] This tactic, however, was unable to withstand Barcelona for long, and Mataró gave in and allowed Fàbregas to train with Barcelona one day per week. Eventually Fàbregas joined Barcelona's academy full-time. His initial training was as a defensive midfielder playing alongside notable names such as Gerard Piqué and Lionel Messi. Although he was a prolific scorer, sometimes scoring even more than 30 goals in a season for the club's youth teams, he did not manage to play a first-team game at the Camp Nou.[9] During his time at Barcelona's youth academy, Fàbregas idolised Barcelona's then-captain and number four Pep Guardiola, who would later give Fàbregas his shirt as consolation when Fàbregas' parents divorced.[10]
International career
Youth team
Although he features regularly for the Spain national football team, Fàbregas' international career began at youth level. At the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship held in Finland, he finished as top scorer of the tournament despite playing in midfield, and was voted Player of the Tournament.[9] Spain finished runners-up in the tournament to Brazil.[130] Fàbregas was next involved in the 2004 UEFA U-17 European Championship, where Spain also finished runners-up.[131] He was named the Golden Player of the tournament by FIFA.[131]
Senior team
After emerging as one of Arsenal's key players in only his second season at the club, it did not take long for Fàbregas to be called up to the senior squad. Noting his impressive performances in Arsenal's 2006 Champions League campaign, Spain coach Luis Aragonés named the teenager in the team for a friendly against Ivory Coast.[132] In that game, Fàbregas became the youngest player capped for Spain in 70 years, beating Sergio Ramos' record.[4] He received favourable reviews for his début, and was involved in the build-up to Spain's first goal in the 3–2 victory over the Ivorians.[4][133]
Managerial career
Como
On 1 July 2023, Fàbregas was appointed as head coach of Como U19 and B following his retirement from professional football.[165] He obtained his UEFA A coaching licence in 2023.[166]
On 13 November 2023, following the dismissal of Moreno Longo, Fàbregas was promoted to first-team head coach on an interim basis.[167] As he had no UEFA Pro coaching license by the time of his appointment, Fàbregas was handed a special dispensation to fill in as head coach for one month.[168] On 20 December 2023, Como announced the appointment of Osian Roberts as the new caretaker manager until the end of season, while Fàbregas will stay on as an assistant to the first team coaching staff.[169] Fàbregas's final game in charge of the club was a 3–3 home draw against Palermo on 23 December 2023.[170]
Having brought Como from 7th to 3rd place in his short tenure, the club later managed to win automatic promotion to Serie A under Roberts, with Fàbregas staying as assistant for the remainder of the season.[171]
Outside football
Personal life
Fàbregas married his long time Lebanese girlfriend Daniella Semaan in May 2018.[193][194] Together they have three children, daughters Lia (born 2013),[195] Capri (born 2015),[196] and son Leonardo (born 2017).[197] In July 2013, Fàbregas won a court case over the marital home with Semaan's ex-husband.[198]
In July 2019 he was banned from driving in the UK for six months after being caught speeding.[199]
Sponsorship
In 2011, Fàbregas signed a sponsorship deal with German sportswear and equipment supplier, Puma.[200] He appeared in an advert for the new Puma PowerCat 1.12 in September 2011 and was one of the flagship wearers of Puma's PowerCat range of football boots.[201] When the PowerCat was succeeded by the evoPower, again Fàbregas was the forefront of Puma's marketing campaign. In January 2014, the brand launched a C4 evoPower boot,[202] specifically designed for just Fàbregas to wear. In 2012, Fàbregas signed an endorsement deal with Soul Electronics to sport Ludacris' signature line of headphones.[203]
Other projects
Fàbregas starred in his own one-time only television programme, called "The Cesc Fàbregas Show: Nike Live", that aired on 19 May 2008. The programme was sponsored by Nike and was shown on Sky Sports. The show featured Fàbregas in several sketches with then Arsenal teammates like Philippe Senderos and Nicklas Bendtner, as well as coach Arsène Wenger, Fàbregas' parents and Little Britain star Matt Lucas.[204]
Punditry
For the 2018 World Cup, Fàbregas was a pundit for the BBC's coverage. He featured alongside Rio Ferdinand, Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker.[205]
Arsenal
Barcelona
Chelsea
Monaco
Spain
Individual
Orders
