In Cesar Azpilicueta biography, we explore his journey from a young talent at Osasuna to a versatile defender at Chelsea and Atlético Madrid.
One of the best defenders of his generation, Cesar Azpilicueta has been a key player for Chelsea and Atlético Madrid, as well as the Spanish national team, for over a decade.
In this biography, we will learn more about his life, his career, his achievements, and his personality. We will discover how he became a leader on and off the pitch, how he overcame injuries and setbacks, and how he balances his professional and personal life. This, is Cesar Azpilicueta life story.
Everything to know about Cesar Azpilicueta
Azpilicueta is not only a footballer but also a scholar. He completed a business degree in entertainment, media, and sports from Harvard Business School in 2023.
Azpilicueta has a nickname that has nothing to do with his real name. He is called “Dave” by Chelsea fans because they find his surname hard to pronounce.
Now, without further ado, let’s dive into the Cesar Azpilicueta biography.
Cesar Azpilicueta information
In this part of Cesar Azpilicueta biography, we will have a glance at the player’s general information.
Born on August 28, 1989, Cesar Azpilicueta real name is César Azpilicueta Tanco.
- Full Name: César Azpilicueta Tanco
- Nickname: Dave
- Profession: Professional Football Player
Physical Stats
- Weight: 77 Kilograms
- Height: 1.78 m
- Eye Color: Brown
- Hair Color: Brown
Date of Birth and Personal Info
- Date of Birth: August 28, 1989
- Birth Place: Zizur Mayor, Spain
- Nationality: Spanish
Football Information
- Position: Defender
- Jersey Number: 3
- Professional Debut: 2007
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Cesar Azpilicueta early life
In this part of Cesar Azpilicueta biography, we take a look at the player’s early life.
Azpilicueta was born on 28 August 1989 in Zizur Mayor, a town near Pamplona in the region of Navarre. He was the youngest of three children of Patxi Azpilicueta, a painter, and Charo Tanco, a primary school teacher. His older brother, Juan Pablo, was also a footballer who played in the lower leagues. Azpilicueta grew up in a humble and hardworking family that supported his dreams of becoming a professional footballer.
Azpilicueta started playing football at the age of six when he joined his local club, CD Zizur. The 34-year-old was initially a forward but later switched to midfield. He idolized Brazilian legend Ronaldo and tried to emulate his skills and tricks. He also admired Spanish players like Raúl and Xavi.
When he was 11 years old, he was scouted by CA Osasuna, the biggest club in Navarre. The Spanish defender joined their youth academy and moved to Pamplona with his brother, who also played for Osasuna B. He progressed through the ranks and made his debut for the first team in 2007, at the age of 17. He played against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and impressed with his performance.
Cesar Azpilicueta profile
In this part of Cesar Azpilicueta biography, we will have a glance at the player’s profile.
César Azpilicueta is a Spanish footballer who plays as a defender for Atlético Madrid and the Spain national team. He is known for his versatility, leadership, and professionalism. Azpilicueta started his career at Osasuna and then played for Marseille and Chelsea, winning multiple trophies with both clubs. He also completed a business degree from Harvard Business School in 2023. He is married to Adriana and has three children.
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Cesar Azpilicueta football career
In this part of Cesar Azpilicueta biography, we dive deep into the professional life of the Spanish international.
Osasuna
Azpilicueta made his debut for Osasuna Promesas, the reserve team, in the 2005-06 season, playing in four games in the Segunda División B (third tier of Spanish football). He also played three games for the first team in the Copa del Rey that season.
In the 2006-07 season, Azpilicueta became a regular starter for Osasuna Promesas, playing 29 games and scoring one goal in the Segunda División B. He also made his La Liga debut for the first team on April 8, 2007, against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Azpilicueta established himself as a first-team player for Osasuna in the 2007-08 season, playing 29 games in La Liga and three in the Copa del Rey. He scored his first goal for the club on March 9, 2008, against Real Valladolid.
In the 2008-09 season, Azpilicueta played 37 games in La Liga and four in the Copa del Rey, helping Osasuna avoid relegation by finishing 17th. He also made his debut for the Spain under-21 team on October 10, 2008, against Switzerland.
Azpilicueta’s last season at Osasuna was 2009-10 when he played 32 games in La Liga and two in the Copa del Rey. He was named as the club’s captain and was voted as the best right-back in La Liga by his fellow players. He also played for Spain at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2010 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Azpilicueta left Osasuna in August 2010 to join French club Olympique Marseille for a reported fee of €7 million.
Marseille
Azpilicueta joined French giants Olympique de Marseille in June 2010, signing a four-year deal worth €7 million after an agreement with Osasuna. The fee could rise to €9.5 million depending on his performance. He had a mixed start to his Champions League career, scoring an own goal in his debut against Spartak Moscow.
His first season in France was cut short by a serious knee injury, which he suffered in November 2010 during a 4–0 victory over Montpellier that put Marseille on top of the league. He recovered after six months and scored his first and only league goal for the club in May 2012 against Auxerre.
In the summer of 2012, Azpilicueta attracted the interest of several clubs, including Chelsea from the Premier League.
Chelsea
Continuing toward Cesar Azpilicueta biography, he joined Chelsea from Olympique Marseille in August 2012 for a reported fee of €7 million.
Azpilicueta made his debut for Chelsea on September 25, 2012, in a League Cup match against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He won his first trophy with the club in May 2013, when Chelsea beat Benfica 2-1 in the Europa League final.
Azpilicueta became a regular starter for Chelsea in the 2013-14 season, playing mostly as a left-back under manager Jose Mourinho. He won the Premier League title and the League Cup in the 2014-15 season and was voted as the club’s Players’ Player of the Year.
Azpilicueta continued to be a key player for Chelsea in the following seasons, playing in various defensive positions and showing his versatility and leadership. He won another Premier League title in the 2016-17 season and added two FA Cups (in 2017-18 and 2020-21) and another Europa League (in 2018-19) to his collection.
Azpilicueta’s crowning moment came in May 2021, when he captained Chelsea to their second Champions League title, beating Manchester City 1-0 in the final. He became the first player to lift both the Europa League and the Champions League trophies as captain of the same club.
Atlético Madrid
Azpilicueta ended his long and successful spell at Chelsea and signed a one-year deal with Atlético Madrid, returning to his native Spain after 13 years. He wore the red and white shirt for the first time on August 14, when he helped his new team to a 3–1 victory over Granada in their La Liga opener.
International career
Here, we will take a look at Cesar Azpilicueta stats at the international level.
Azpilicueta fulfilled his “dream to play for Spain” at the senior level in February 2013, when he made his debut against Uruguay in a friendly match in Doha. He impressed the manager with his energy, defensive skills, and attacking instincts. He was part of the squad that reached the final of the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil, where he played against Tahiti and Brazil.
Azpilicueta was Spain’s first-choice right-back at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but he could not prevent his team from crashing out in the group stage after losing to the Netherlands and Chile. He was also selected for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he played in two games as Spain were eliminated by hosts Russia on penalties.
Azpilicueta scored his first goal for Spain at Euro 2020, netting the second goal in a thrilling 5–3 win over Croatia in the last 16. He also captained his country for the first time in a World Cup qualifier against Georgia in September 2021. He was named in Spain’s squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he featured in two matches at the tournament.
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Cesar Azpilicueta’s playing style
In this part of Cesar Azpilicueta biography, we tend to the versatile defender’s style of play.
Azpilicueta started his career as a forward, then switched to midfielder, and finally settled as a defender. He began his professional career at Osasuna, where he spent four seasons in La Liga. The 34-year-old then moved to Marseille, where he won four major honors with the French club. Azpilicueta joined Chelsea in 2012 and became one of the most successful players in the club’s history. The versatile defender won the Europa League twice, the Premier League twice, the FA Cup twice, the League Cup once, and the Champions League once. Azpilicueta also captained Chelsea to win the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021. He made over 500 appearances for Chelsea and was sixth on their list of all-time appearances when he left in 2023.
Azpilicueta is a reliable and consistent defender who excels in one-on-one situations. He is strong, quick, and agile, and has good positional awareness and anticipation. He is also a good passer of the ball, who can deliver accurate crosses, long balls, and smart passes into the opposition box.
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Cesar Azpilicueta honors and achievements
In this part of Cesar Azpilicueta biography, we will have a glance at the player’s achievements.
Club level: Azpilicueta has played for three clubs in his career: Osasuna, Marseille, and Chelsea. He won four major trophies with Marseille, including two French League Cups and one French Super Cup. He joined Chelsea in 2012 and became one of the most successful players in the club’s history. The Spanish defender won the Europa League twice, the Premier League twice, the FA Cup twice, the League Cup once, and the Champions League once. Azpilicueta also captained Chelsea to win the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021. He made over 500 appearances for Chelsea and was sixth on their list of all-time appearances when he left in 2023. He joined Atlético Madrid in 2023 and is currently playing for them.
International level: Azpilicueta has represented Spain at various youth levels, winning the European Under-19 Championship in 2007 and the European Under-21 Championship in 2011. He made his senior debut in 2013 and has earned 44 caps and scored one goal for his country. The La Liga veteran has participated in three World Cups, two European Championships, and one Confederations Cup. He was the runner-up in the Confederations Cup in 2013 and the Nations League in 2021.
Personal level: Azpilicueta has received several individual awards and recognitions for his performances. He was voted as the best right-back in La Liga by his fellow players in 2010. He was named Chelsea’s Players’ Player of the Year in 2014 and 2018. Azpilicueta was included in the PFA Team of the Year in 2018. The Champions League winner was also named as Chelsea’s captain in 2019 and led them to win several trophies.
Cesar Azpilicueta personal life
In this part of Cesar Azpilicueta biography, we take a look at the 34-year-old’s personal life.
Cesar Azpilicueta’s wife, Adriana Guerendiain, has been his partner since his early days at Osasuna. They tied the knot in June 2015, after having their first daughter, Martina, in March 2014. They have since welcomed two more children, a son and another daughter, to their family.
Azpilicueta is not only a footballer but also a businessman and an esports enthusiast. The Spanish defender is a board member and co-owner of Hashtag United, an English non-league club that plays in the Isthmian League Premier Division. He joined the club in 2018, along with other investors and celebrities. He also launched his esports team, Falcons, in 2020, with the help of two famous Spanish gamers, Jose Antonio Cacho and Jesus Rincon. They have millions of YouTube subscribers and are experts in FIFA and Fortnite.
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