Cesar Azpilicueta prioritises family after retiring from football

Cesar Azpilicueta says he is putting family life first after retiring from professional football, explaining that he no longer had the energy to commit fully to another season. In an interview with BBC Sport, the former Chelsea captain said he needed a break following a 20-year playing career. The 37-year-old spent his final season at Sevilla.

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Azpilicueta was speaking at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium while receiving a diploma in global football sport directorship through the PFA Business School. Asked whether he might eventually become a sporting director, he left that possibility open rather than committing to the role. For now, he said he wanted to spend time with his family, play golf and enjoy a different routine after years of travelling and preparing for matches.

The qualification adds to his studies in business management at the Berlin School of Business and Innovation and a diploma from Harvard Business School. Azpilicueta told the BBC that education had mattered to him since childhood, when his parents encouraged him to achieve good grades and finish school. He became a professional footballer at 17, during his final school year.

His studies also accompanied one of the biggest moments of his playing career. Before Chelsea's 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City in Porto, he turned to coursework when he could not take his usual pre-match nap. He later captained the team to victory. Azpilicueta said learning away from football helped him through the closing years of his career and supported his development both personally and as a player.

After starting at Osasuna and moving to Marseille, Azpilicueta joined Chelsea in 2012. He described having to earn his place among established players and adapt to changing managers and defensive roles, including left-back, wing-back and a position in a back three. He subsequently followed John Terry and Gary Cahill as captain, and said his education helped give him confidence to take on leadership responsibilities.

Azpilicueta also revealed that he has not returned to Stamford Bridge since leaving Chelsea in 2023, although he continues to follow the club's matches. He said he would visit again, but made clear that a return would not involve playing. His immediate plans remain centred on time away from the demands of professional football rather than a confirmed move into club management.