Cesc Fabregas, a former midfielder for Barcelona and Arsenal, has declared his retirement from the game at the age of 36. Fabregas ends a 20-year career in which he won numerous important trophies while playing for Spain, Barcelona, Arsenal, and Chelsea.
“It is with great sadness that the time has come for me to hang up my playing boots,” Fabregas said on Saturday in a statement posted to Twitter.
“From my first days at Barca, Arsenal, Barca again, Chelsea, Monaco and Como, I will treasure them all. From lifting the World Cup, and the Euros, to winning everything in England and Spain and nearly all the European trophies, it has been a journey that I’ll never forget.”
“It’s not all sadness though as I’m now going to cross the white line and start coaching the B and Primavera [youth] teams of Como 1907. A club and a project I couldn’t be more excited about,” he added.
“This charming football team won my heart from the first minute and came to me at the perfect time in my career. I will grab it with both hands.
“So after 20 incredible years full of sacrifice, dedication and joy, it’s time to say thank you and goodbye to the beautiful game.”
Fabregas spent much of his youth career at Barca before switching to Arsenal, where he made his senior debut and went on to become a club icon as he made 303 appearances between 2003 and 2011.
The midfielder later returned to Barca to reunite with the group of players he had left behind while still a youngster, including Lionel Messi and Gerrard Pique, and assisted the team in winning two Spanish Cups and La Liga in 2013.
In the meantime, Fabregas succeeded for Spain at the international level, earning 110 caps and playing a significant role in the team that won a historic two Euro crowns on either side of their triumph at the 2010 World Cup. Fabregas came to Chelsea in 2015 and stayed there for five years, winning the FA Cup, Europa League, and the Premier League thrice. After leaving Stamford Bridge in 2019, he spent time with AS Monaco and Serie B team Como.
