Cesar Azpilicueta explains retirement decision as he puts family before next football role

Cesar Azpilicueta has explained that he retired because he could no longer give an entire season the commitment he felt it required, with family now taking priority over an immediate return to football. In an interview with BBC Sport, the former Chelsea captain said he believed he could still have played but wanted a break after 20 years of travelling, competing and preparing for campaigns.

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The 37-year-old, who spent last season at Sevilla, spoke while collecting a diploma in global football sport directorship through the PFA Business School at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium. Asked whether he might eventually become a sporting director, he left the possibility open without committing to it. For now, he wants time with his family and to play golf, rather than take on another demanding football role.

His latest qualification adds to a record of studying alongside his playing career. BBC Sport reported that he also holds a diploma from Harvard Business School and worked towards an MBA in business management at the Berlin School of Business and Innovation. Azpilicueta said education had mattered to him since childhood and that studying in another language was part of his desire to keep developing, rather than simply preparation for retirement.

That interest accompanied one of the biggest days of his career. Before Chelsea's 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City, he was unable to take his usual pre-match nap and studied instead. He told the BBC that the work helped distract him from the pressure surrounding the game and the noise in Porto. He later captained Chelsea to victory and lifted the trophy.

Azpilicueta joined Chelsea from Marseille in 2012 after beginning his career at Osasuna. He went on to make 508 appearances across 11 years, placing him sixth on the club's all-time list, according to BBC Sport. He described adapting to different managers and defensive positions as central to his longevity, having arrived in a squad that already included established leaders John Terry, Frank Lampard and Petr Cech.

Although he left Chelsea in 2023 and has not yet returned to Stamford Bridge, Azpilicueta said he continues to follow every match. He intends to visit again, but ruled out putting his boots back on for that return. Even casual football with friends does not appeal at present: he said it would bring out the competitive instincts he is now trying to step away from.