Cesc Fábregas · Biography

The first trophy of Francesc “Cesc” Fàbregas Soler’s professional career came in May 2005, when he started for Arsenal in the FA Cup final they won on penalties against Manchester United. Born on 4 May 1987 in Arenys de Mar, near Barcelona, the playmaking midfielder played for Arsenal, FC Barcelona, Chelsea, Monaco and Como, won Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 with Spain, and has coached Como 1907 since 2024.

Barcelona academy

He came through FC Barcelona’s youth system, in the same generation as Lionel Messi and Gerard Piqué. He stood out early with Spain’s youth teams: at the 2003 Under-17 World Cup in Finland, Spain reached the final and he was named player of the tournament and top scorer. In September 2003, aged sixteen at the time, he left Barcelona to join Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal.

Arsenal (2003-2011)

He made his debut on 28 October 2003 in the League Cup against Rotherham United, becoming the youngest player to appear for the club’s first team. He established himself in midfield after Patrick Vieira left in 2005 and in 2006 played in the Champions League final, lost to Barcelona in Paris. In November 2008 Wenger made him captain, a role he kept until his departure. Over eight seasons he played 212 Premier League matches and scored 35 league goals, although the 2005 FA Cup remained his only trophy with the London club.

Return to Barcelona (2011-2014)

In August 2011 he returned to Barcelona, then coached by Pep Guardiola. In his first season he won the Spanish Super Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the 2011 Club World Cup, followed by the 2012 Copa del Rey. Under Tito Vilanova he won La Liga in 2012-13, and in 2013 he added another Spanish Super Cup. He played both as an attacking midfielder and as a false nine, leaving the club in 2014 after three seasons.

Chelsea, Monaco and Como (2014-2023)

In June 2014 he joined José Mourinho’s Chelsea for around £30 million. In his first season he won the Premier League and the 2015 League Cup; under Antonio Conte he added the 2016-17 Premier League and the 2018 FA Cup. He left Stamford Bridge in January 2019 for Monaco, where he played until 2022. That summer he signed for Como in Italy’s Serie B, and on 1 July 2023 he announced his retirement as a player and moved onto the club’s coaching staff.

Spain national team

He made his senior Spain debut in 2006 and went to the World Cup in Germany that year. At Euro 2008 he scored the decisive kick in the quarter-final shootout against Italy on the way to the title. In the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg he came off the bench and provided the pass for Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time winner against the Netherlands. At Euro 2012 he again converted the last penalty of a shootout, in the semi-final against Portugal, and Spain retained the title in Kyiv. He played his last match for Spain in 2016, finishing with 110 caps and 15 goals.

Playing style

He was a passing midfielder with vision for the final ball and a habit of arriving in the box. In England he piled up assists as an attacking midfielder and playmaker; in Guardiola’s Barcelona he adapted to a more advanced role without a fixed position, and at Chelsea he dropped deeper to dictate play alongside a holding midfielder.

Como head coach

On 13 November 2023 he took interim charge of Como in Serie B. Because he did not yet hold the required UEFA licence, Welsh coach Osian Roberts took over the team in January 2024 with Fàbregas remaining on the staff; Como finished second that season and won promotion to Serie A. In July 2024 he was appointed head coach. Como finished tenth in Serie A in 2024-25, and in 2025-26 they finished fourth with 71 points and the league’s best defence, having conceded 29 goals, which gave the club its first Champions League qualification in 2026.