Cesar Azpilicueta has retired from playing football, and he is taking a break. The 37-year-old former Chelsea captain spoke to BBC Sport about how education carried him through the pressures of elite sport — and why he is stepping away now, even though he could still kick a ball.
Azpilicueta’s story is one of constant improvement. Before Chelsea’s Champions League final victory in 2021, he skipped his usual pre-match nap and studied instead. He was working towards an MBA in business management from the Berlin School of Business and Innovation, and the coursework took his mind off the pressure and noise on the streets of Porto.
“When I was a kid my parents pushed me to get good grades and finish school.”
On the last day, he raised the Champions League trophy after leading Chelsea to a win over Manchester City. The degree aided him in handling the moment.
Education Through the Years
His parents encouraged him to take his studies seriously while he was growing up, and even when he turned professional at 17, in his final year of school, learning remained an important part of who he was.
“Covid-19 arrived, we had more time,” he said. “I found some courses but I didn’t start because I thought it was the end of my career. It was more that I wanted to learn, improve myself and do it in another language.”
His career didn’t end with the MBA. Instead, it helped him make the most of the rest of it, become a better person and a better footballer.
The Diploma From Arsenal
The defender spoke at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, where he received a diploma in global football sport directorship through the PFA Business School. He also holds a diploma from Harvard Business School among his qualifications.
The session added to his existing credentials, and he joked that he did not feel “entirely comfortable” at the venue.
Why He Quit Playing
After spending last season with Sevilla, Azpilicueta retired from playing. When asked directly if he could one day become a sporting director, he responded “maybe.”. However, he admits football has left him needing some time away.
He is now at a “different stage of life.” He cannot even contemplate playing football with friends for fun because it would trigger his competitive instincts.
“It was time to stop playing football because, even though I could probably still play, I didn’t have the energy to commit myself fully for an entire season,” he reflected.
“At the moment I have another commitment, which is my family. I want to play some golf and enjoy life.”
“For 20 years I was constantly travelling, playing and preparing for seasons. This summer looked completely different.”
The Chelsea Years
The defender’s career started at his boyhood club Osasuna, then took him to Marseille, where he picked up French along the way. It was his transfer to Chelsea in 2012, though, that changed everything for him.
“I started as a right winger, moved to France, then moved to Chelsea. I wasn’t a star signing. I had to find my way. Left-back, wing-back, centre-back in a back three,” he explained.
He walked into a dressing room where the leaders were already set, with John Terry, Frank Lampard and Petr Cech among them. The star names around him included Fernando Torres, Eden Hazard and Ashley Cole. The experience was humbling from the start.
“It was about consistency. I had to work hard to stay fit, adapt to different managers and different positions,” he said.
“When you arrive at Chelsea, you feel the ambition straight away. Every three days you have to win. Every game and every trophy matters.”
“That culture pushed me to the maximum and, especially when I left Chelsea, I felt that I had given everything I had for the club.”
Stamford Bridge was where his education outside football shaped him into a leader. That grounding also gave him the courage to speak for Premier League players during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The sanctions placed on owner Roman Abramovich after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatened to stall the club’s progress. Instead, it helped him organise initiatives and maintain momentum, keeping the club moving forward.
Leaving Stamford Bridge
Azpilicueta stepped up to replace Terry, and later Gary Cahill, as the Blues’ leader on the pitch. That places him among Chelsea’s most notable captains.
He has not set foot back at Stamford Bridge since departing the club in 2023, part of a large group of players who left after Chelsea’s ownership changed hands from Abramovich to the present American-led consortium in 2022.
“I left Chelsea, but Chelsea will always stay in my heart,” he said. “I follow every game and I hope the club comes back to where it belongs.”
The passage opens with a direct quotation, “There are some very strong teams around and football sometimes needs a bit of time. You need connections, people playing together and understanding each other.”, which is presented as a statement about the nature of the subject under discussion. The text then proceeds to elaborate on several key points, including the use of specific markers that identify quoted material and numerical figures.
“At a big club like Chelsea, the demands are high. But I think that’s normal. It should be demanding and ambitious because, speaking as a Chelsea fan, you always want to see the club winning trophies.”
“I have confidence that [manager] Xabi [Alonso], the staff and the players will do good work. Hopefully they can bring a lot of happiness to the fans.”
The man has kept an eye on Chelsea’s newest captain, Reece James, whom he considers likely to become a superior leader, ever since three older players — Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck and Emiliano Martinez — arrived at the club over the summer.
The Return That Won’t Happen
Azpilicueta reacted with modesty when it was proposed that he might return to Stamford Bridge in some role and be met with a warm reception from the crowd, saying “I don’t know about that.”.
“I will come back one day. I won’t be putting on my boots, though.”
Harvard and the PFA Business School both claim a degree holder among Azpilicueta’s achievements, which he earned even as he prepared for what would become the biggest night of his career. His devotion to education shone through during that period.
He has not stepped away because he wants to. Instead, he has chosen a change in focus, trading endless travel and preparation for time with his family and golf.
He spent 20 years constantly on the road, performing and getting ready for seasons. This summer broke that pattern entirely.
Source material: “I clawed my way to the top but need a break – Azpilicueta,” the BBC.
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