In July 2023, Cesar Azpilicueta decided to end his time in London. He chose to accept a new challenge at Atlético de Madrid. The Navarrese returns to LaLiga, more than a decade after he left for France, to play for the rojiblanco team. His new coach Diego Pablo Simeone appreciates his experience, versatility and competitive character that led him to be Chelsea’s captain, where he won all possible titles. He now hopes to add another trophy to his list of winners with the Madrid club.

César had debuted in Champions while playing for Olympique on 15 Sep 2010 at the age of 21. Two years later he was playing his first match with Chelsea in the most prestigious competition in the world. He had joined the blues at the end of August. It was not an easy year at Stamford Bridge. Rafa Benitez had replaced Di Matteo before Christmas. Under Benitez orders, Azpilicueta had many opportunities. One of the at the Europa League final against Benfica. Chelsea won 2-1 and César conquered his first-ever European title with a club.

Mourinho´s arrival in 2013 was a significant turning-point for the Zizur player career. The portuguese played him on the left, and the outcome was satisfactory so he starded most of the games that year. The season ended with no titles, but at a personal level, Azpilicueta had cause for satisfaction. On the one hand, Mou praised him publicly with a very telling phrase: “I think a team with 11 Azpilicuetas could win the Champions.” César was elected player of the year at Chelsea by his team mates. It was not a minor recognition, given the level shown by players like Hazard, Cech or any of the defensive line (Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic).

The 2014-15 season closes with two titles, the Capital One Cup and the Premier League, recently won. Another outstanding campaign for Azpilicueta, that shows his versatility and consistency, surpassing again the 40 matches mark.

In the 15-16 season, César established himself as a key player at Chelsea (37 Premier League games and 8 Champions League games, plus two goals), the team struggled to reach the main targets. Under Antonio Conte, in the 16-17 season, Azpilicueta has shown another level to his game. “César is one of the best in the world in this role”, says the italian coach. In january, the spanish defender completed a whole year playing in every Chelsea game.

On 12 May 2017, Azpilicueta won his second Premier League title. The spaniard played every minute of every Premier League and played as right back as well as right-sided centre-back. Antonio Conte said about him: “Azpi is incredible in his new role, one of the best in the world”.

César won the FA Cup in the 17-18 season. A title that he didn’t have and now is on his brilliant track record. This season is marked by Azpilicueta’s great performance: he becomes Chelsea’s second captain and beats his own record of matches played per season reaching 52 games with the blues.

César Azpilicueta widened his track record on May 29, 2019, after conquering his second Europa League with Chelsea. The player from Navarre lifted the Cup as the captain ending a spectacular season in which he has played 56 official matches, more than any other player in all major European leagues.

In the 19-20 season, Frank Lampard’s first season in the ‘blue’ dugout, César was once again indispensable: he played 49 games and stood out for his offensive contribution, adding seven assists and four goals, two of them in the Champions League.

The 2020-21 season has been the definitive enshrinement of César Azpilicueta at a personal and collective level. Although the beginnings of season are often complicated, The Navarro is loyal to his commitment and teamwork principles and collaborates to take Chelsea to the Last Sixteen stage of the Champions League. Since January 2021, with the arrival of Tuchel, when Chelsea reaches their maximum level, with Azpilicueta in the pitch, culminating an excepcional season with the Champions League title. Azpilicueta lifts the trophy on the 29th of May in Oporto and reaches the sky: he was included in the Best 11 of the Season. Also, that season Chelsea reached the finals of the Fa Cup and is qualified for the next Champions League competition.

Season 21-22 has started in the best possible way: Azpilicueta adds another title to his track record winning his first European Super Cup in Belfast. Chelsea beat Villarreal in a thrilling penalty shootout in which César scored his goal.

On February 12, 2022, Azpilicueta adds a new title to his impressive track record by winning the Club World Cup against Palmeiras. After eliminating Al Hilal in the semifinals, Chelsea obtained the final victory (2-1) with a penalty forced by the Navarrese and scored by Havertz. Cesar lifted his last major title as Chelsea’s captain in Abu Dhabi, receiving praise from the entire football world.

At 22-23 years of age, he became the foreign player with the most appearances in Chelsea’s history -after beating Petr Cech- and is in the ‘top 5’ in the club’s history. Only John Terry (715), Frank Lampard (648), Ron Harris (616) and Peter Bonetti (559) have more than 508 appearances with the Chelsea shirt. In the English club, he won: two Premier (2014-15 and 2016-17), one FA Cup (2017-18), one League Cup (2014-15), one Champions League (2020-21), two Europa League (2012-13 and 2018-19), a European Super Cup (2021) and a Club World Cup (2021). He also became the first Spanish player to lift the Champions League as captain of a foreign team—the club defined him as a ‘Chelsea legend’ after his goodbye after 11 seasons.

Olympique de Marseille confirmed Azpilicueta’s signing in Summer 2010. Amidst the heat of the Velodrome fans, César played two seasons with both good and bad moment. He gained his first titles as a professional (French Supercups of 2010 and 2011, Cup of the League 2011-2012).

Nevertheless, he suffered the sourest part of football. In November 2010, he broke his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. Six months strengthened the player’s determination to become one of the best. When he returned, he became one of the best wing defenders of the continent. His extraordinary talent helped him to be spotted by Chelsea, the surprising Champion of Europe.

Like many other youngsters from Navarre, César Azpilicueta’s hope was to play for Osasuna. Before reaching 18 years old, he was an emerging talented player from Tajonar. His debut in the First Division was a matter of time. He couldn’t have predicted his first match with the veterans: On the 8th of April 2007, Santiago Bernabéu saw his first minutes in La Liga, although he had already played in La Copa. At only 17 years old, César entered the pitch under the close scrutiny of thousands of fans in one of the most imposing stadiums in the world.

That participation was the first of a long list. Azpilicueta successfully competed for the starting berth at right-back and established himself as a benchmark player. The Navarrese institution was leaving behind the best years of its history and was recycling itself to ensure that it remained in the first division. That objective was achieved, not without much effort, during the seasons that the player from Zizur Mayor wore the club’s shirt.

In 2010, César had already played 100 games with Osasuna. He wasn’t yet 21 years old, something that boosted the merit of that achievement. He surpassed Iñigo Larrainzar reaching 100 matches with Osasuna, being even younger than him when achieving it. His confidence made him leave Navarra sooner than expected.

A veteran of the youth ranks (he took part in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2007 and the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2011), Azpilicueta was on Del Bosque’s radar before the 2010 World Cup. The Salamanca-born player was rewarded for his excellent career with a pre-selection for the South African showpiece.

Azpilicueta’s debut with the Spanish national team came on 6 February 2013, in a friendly against Uruguay in Doha. The player from Navarre started in the starting line-up. It was a reward for his efforts and the best way to get rid of the bad taste in his mouth from the London Olympics, where months earlier Spain, who had been tipped as favourites, failed to get past the first round. Attending the opening of the Olympic Games, however, was something he will never forget.

César’s career with La Roja has been marked by his presence in the 2013 Confederations Cup and the World Cup in Brazil, where despite the team’s performance he demonstrated his ability to play in several defensive positions, becoming a very valuable asset for Del Bosque. The Salamanca-born player has confidence in him to play at the European Championship in France, where Spain lost in the round of 16 to Italy.

With Julen Lopetegui on the bench, Azpilicueta retains his place among the players involved in qualifying for the Russia 2018 World Cup.

In 2021, after a fantastic season, Luis Enrique called him up to play in the European Championship. The player from Navarre had a great tournament with Spain: he spread his leadership on and off the pitch, scored a key goal against Croatia and reached the semi-finals.

In 2022, after a fantastic season, he played in three matches in Spain’s qualification for the Nations League Final Four and Luis Enrique also called him up for Qatar 2022, his third World Cup after Brazil and Russia. He started the opener against Costa Rica (6-0) and against Japan, a match in which he was substituted due to injury at half-time after assisting Morata in the 1-0 scoreline. He was unable to play against Morocco.