César Azpilicueta
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Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | César Azpilicueta Tanco | ||
Date of birth | 28 August 1989 | ||
Place of birth | Pamplona, Spain | ||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Right back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Chelsea | ||
Number | 28 | ||
Youth career | |||
1999–2006 | Osasuna | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2006–2007 | Osasuna B | 27 | (1) |
2007–2010 | Osasuna | 99 | (0) |
2010–2012 | Marseille | 47 | (1) |
2012– | Chelsea | 19 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
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 | 5 | (0) |
2013– | Spain | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:41, 18 March 2013 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 February 2013 |
Template:Spanish name César Azpilicueta Tanco (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈθesaɾ aθpiliˈkweta ˈtaŋko]; born 28 August 1989), is a Spanish footballer who plays as a right back for Premier League club Chelsea and the Spanish national team.
After emerging through the ranks at Osasuna's youth system, he went on to to play three seasons, making over 100 appearances for Osasuna. Before moving to Ligue 1 side Marseille for €7 million. With whom he impressed winning four titles with the French club. Azpilicueta won the Trophée des Champions in 2010 and 2011 and the 2010–11 and 2011–12 editions of the Coupe de la Ligue. In the 2012–13, Azpilicueta moved to England, signing for Premier League club Chelsea in August 2012, for a fee in the region of £7 million.
Azpilicueta is a Spanish international, having represented Spain at under-16, under-17, under-19, under-20, under-21, Olympic and senior levels. He played for the under-20 side in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In 2011, he helped Spain win the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship in Denmark. On 6 February 2013, Azpilicueta made his debut for the senior side in a friendly against Uruguay, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 win.
Club career
Osasuna
Azpilicueta was born in Pamplona, Navarre. A product of hometown side CA Osasuna's youth system, he made his La Liga debut on 8 April 2007 in a 0–2 away loss against Real Madrid, while still registered with the reserve team;[2] he started his career as a midfielder.[3]
In 2007–08, due to injuries in the main squad, Azpilicueta established himself as a first-team regular at the age of just 18, albeit as a right back. He went on to retain this position for the following season, appearing in all but two games for the club.
Marseille
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/C%C3%A9sar_Azpilicueta_5401.jpg/165px-C%C3%A9sar_Azpilicueta_5401.jpg)
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.[4] A week later, the Navarrese confirmed the agreement, with the transfer fee possibly rising to as much as €9.5 million, depending on appearances.[5] In his UEFA Champions League debut, in a group stage home match against FC Spartak Moscow, he scored the match's only goal, but in his own net.[6]
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,[7] being sidelined for six months.
In August 2012, amid speculation of clubs showing interest in Azpilicueta, including Premier League club Chelsea, Marseille confirmed that he could leave, saying, "If Chelsea makes a fair offer for Aspi [Azpilicueta], we will let him leave."[8] Despite his loyalty to Marseille, the player said he was willing to leave if his "departure can help Marseille's finances".[9]
Chelsea
On 24 August 2012, Chelsea completed the signing of Azpilicueta for an undisclosed fee, reported as £7 million.[10][11] According to his teammate and countryman Juan Mata, "He is a strong running right-back who has pace as well, so I think he is already a complete player."[12]
Azpilicueta made his debut on 25 September 2012, starting in a 6–0 home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers for the season's Football League Cup.[13] He played his first Premier League game the following week, coming on as a substitute for Branislav Ivanović in a 4–1 success over Norwich City, also at Stamford Bridge.
On 3 November 2012 Azpilicueta made his first league start, appearing against Swansea City in a 1–1 away draw.[14] Throughout his season at Chelsea he has become a first choice right back and has been given the nickname "Dave" by the Chelsea fans.
International career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/C%C3%A9sar_Azpilicueta_U21.jpg/150px-C%C3%A9sar_Azpilicueta_U21.jpg)
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. Azpilicueta was picked for Spain's squad for the 2012 Summer Olympics, after missing out on selection for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament. He only appeared in one game in London, however, as the national team exited in the group stage.
On 1 February 2013, Azpilicueta was named in the squad for the upcoming international friendly against Uruguay. The manager said of the selection: 'Azpilicueta is playing many games for Chelsea. He has a lot of energy, defends well and is always willing to attack. We have a lot of hope for him.'[15] On 6 February 2013, he made his debut, playing the full 90 minutes in the 3–1 win in Doha, Qatar.[16] Thereafter, he told that it was his "dream to play for Spain" on a senior level.[17]
Honours
Club
- Marseille
Country
- Spain U19
- Spain U21
Statistics
Club
- As of 17 March 2013.
Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Club | Season | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
Spain | League | Copa del Rey | – | UEFA Cup | – | Total | |||||||
Osasuna | 2006–07[18] | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
2007–08[19] | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
2008–09[20] | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
2009–10[19] | 33 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
Total | 99 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 0 | |
France | League | Coupe de France | Coupe de la Ligue | Europe | Trophee champs. | Total | |||||||
Club | Season | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
Marseille | 2010–11[21] | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 1 |
2011–12[21] | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 1 | |
2012–13[21] | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
Total | 47 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 68 | 2 | |
England | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
Club | Season | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
Chelsea | 2012–13[22] | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
Total | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
Career total | 165 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 208 | 2 |
- ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
References
- ^ "Player Profile: César Azpilicueta". Premier League. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ "Real Madrid 2-0 Osasuna". ESPN Soccernet. 8 April 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ^ "César Azpilicueta, intentad atacar por la otra banda" (in Spanish). El Blog de los Trolacas. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Accord de principe pour le transfert de César Azpilicueta" (in French). OM.net. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Azpi pour 9.5 million euros?" (in French). Mercato 365. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Spartak sucker punch downs Marseille". UEFA.com. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
- ^ Marseille go top but pay high price; Soccerway, 27 November 2010
- ^ Marseille confirm need to sell; Sky Sports, 14 August 2012
- ^ Azpilicueta open to Blues move; Sky Sports, 21 August 2012
- ^ "Azpilicueta signs". Chelsea F.C. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ^ "Azpilicueta joins Chelsea". Sky Sports. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ^ "Di Matteo: Cesar offers options". Chelsea F.C. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ^ "Chelsea 6–0 Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ "Swansea 1-1 Chelsea". ESPN Soccernet. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
- ^ "Azpilicueta called up by Spain". Chelsea F.C. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
- ^ "Azpilicueta impresses Spain boss Vicente del Bosque on debut". Sky Sports. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ^ "Cesar Azpilicueta happy after Spain debut". Sky Sports. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- ^ "Osasuna 2006–07". BDFutbol. Retrieved 26 August 2012. Select competition via dropdown menu.
- ^ a b "Azpilicueta". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ "Osasuna 2008–09". BDFutbol. Retrieved 26 August 2012. Select competition via dropdown menu.
- ^ a b c "César Azpilicueta: Career and Awards". Olympique de Marseille. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ "Games played by Cesar Azpilicueta in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Chelsea official profile
- ESPN profile
- Transfermarkt profile
- BDFutbol profile
- Futbolme profile Template:Es icon
- César Azpilicueta – French league stats at LFP – also available in French (archived)
- César Azpilicueta at L'Équipe Football (in French)
- César Azpilicueta – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Use dmy dates from August 2012
- 1989 births
- Living people
- People from Pamplona
- Sportspeople from Pamplona
- Spanish footballers
- Navarrese footballers
- Association football defenders
- Association football midfielders
- La Liga footballers
- Segunda División B footballers
- CA Osasuna footballers
- Ligue 1 players
- Olympique de Marseille players
- Premier League players
- Chelsea F.C. players
- Spain youth international footballers
- Spain under-21 international footballers
- Spain under-23 international footballers
- Spain international footballers
- Olympic footballers of Spain
- Footballers at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Spanish expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in France
- Expatriate footballers in England