Chelsea idol Azpilicueta announces retirement at the end of the season

Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta announced this Friday (22) that he will retire from professional football at the end of the season, ending a career of around 20 years in the sport.

At 36 years old, Azpilicueta played for clubs such as Osasuna, Olympique de Marseille, Chelsea, Atlético de Madrid and Sevilla. The most memorable period of his career was with the London team, where he played for 11 seasons and played 508 games.

For the English club, Azpilicueta became the first player in history to win all the major titles possible with the team. The Spaniard won the Premier League twice, as well as a UEFA Champions League, two Europa Leagues, an FA Cup, an English League Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup.

The 13 finals played by the defender with the Chelsea shirt also remain a club record.

"This season will be my last as a professional player. After so many years living my dream, I feel that the time has come to start a new chapter in my life," wrote Azpilicueta on social media.

"I am grateful for every moment: the victories, the difficult defeats, the challenges and, most importantly, for the people I met and the friendships I built along the way."

Azpilicueta arrived at Atlético de Madrid in 2023 and stayed for two seasons before moving to Sevilla last year. In 2026, he played 16 matches in LaLiga.

For Spain, the defender made 44 appearances and participated in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

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Source: CNN