César Azpilicueta

César Azpilicueta

Personal information
Full name	César Azpilicueta Tanco
Date of birth	28 August 1989 (1989-08-28)
Place of birth	Pamplona, Spain
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Right back
Club information
Current club	Marseille
Number	2
Youth career
	Osasuna
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2006–2007	Osasuna B	27	(1)
2007–2010	Osasuna	99	(0)
2010–	Marseille	19	(0)
National team‡
2005	Spain U16	3	(0)
2006	Spain U17	10	(0)
2007–2008	Spain U19	18	(2)
2009	Spain U20	5	(0)
2008–2011	Spain U21	19	(1)
2012	Spain U23	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 September 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 February 2012

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Azpilicueta and the second or maternal family name is Tanco.

César Azpilicueta Tanco (born 28 August 1989 in Pamplona, Navarre) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Olympique de Marseille in France, as a right defender.

Club career

A product of hometown side CA Osasuna's youth system, Azpilicueta made his La Liga debut on 8 April 2007, in a 0–2 away defeat against Real Madrid, while still registered with the reserve team. He started his career as a midfielder.

In 2007–08, with other teammates injured, Azpilicueta established himself as a first team regular at the age of just 18 became first-choice, albeit as right defender. He went on to retain this position for the following season, appearing in all but two games for the club.

On 21 June 2010, French club Olympique de Marseille confirmed an agreement had been reached with Osasuna for the transfer of Azpilicueta, in a four-year contract for €7 million. A week later, the Navarrese confirmed the agreement, with the transfer fee possibly rising to as much as €9.5 million, depending on appearances. In his UEFA Champions League debut, in a home game against FC Spartak Moscow, he scored the match's only goal, but in his own net.

On 27 November 2010, in the early minutes of a 4–0 home win against Montpellier HSC - which meant Marseille climbed to the top of the league - Azpilicueta ruptured the anterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee, being sidelined for six months.

International career

In 2007, Azpilicueta helped Spain's U19 win the UEFA European Championship. Shortly after, he upgraded to the under-21s, being picked for the 2009 European Championships in Sweden, starting three matches in an eventual group stage exit.

On 11 May 2010, 20-year old Azpilicueta was named by senior side manager Vicente del Bosque in a provisional list of 30 players, in view of the forthcoming FIFA World Cup; eventually, he did not make the final cut.

Honours

Club

Marseille

• Trophée des Champions: 2010, 2011

Country

Spain U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship: 2007

Spain U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship: 2011

External links

• Olympique Marseille official profile
• BDFutbol profile
• Futbolme profile (Spanish)
• César Azpilicueta French league stats at LFP.fr (French)
• César Azpilicueta at L'Équipe Football (French)
• César Azpilicueta – FIFA competition record
• Transfermarkt profile