![]() Azpilicueta playing for Chelsea in 2015
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | César Azpilicueta Tanco | ||
Date of birth | 28 August 1989 | ||
Place of birth | Pamplona, Spain | ||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
Playing position | Defender | ||
Club information | |||
Current team
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Chelsea | ||
Number | 28 | ||
Youth career | |||
2001–2006 | Osasuna | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2006–2007 | Osasuna B | 27 | (1) |
2007–2010 | Osasuna | 99 | (0) |
2010–2012 | Marseille | 47 | (1) |
2012– | Chelsea | 149 | (3) |
National team‡ | |||
2005 | Spain U16 | 3 | (0) |
2006 | Spain U17 | 14 | (0) |
2007–2008 | Spain U19 | 18 | (2) |
2009 | Spain U20 | 5 | (0) |
2008–2011 | Spain U21 | 19 | (1) |
2012 | Spain U23 | 5 | (0) |
2013– | Spain | 18 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 March 2017 (UTC). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2016 (UTC) |
César Azpilicueta Tanco (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈθesaɾ aθpiliˈkweta ˈtaŋko]; born 28 August 1989) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for English club Chelsea and the Spain national team primarily as a full-back but also as a centre-back.
A youth product of Osasuna, he spent three seasons in La Liga before switching to Marseille, winning four major honours with the French club. In the summer of 2012 he moved to Chelsea, winning the Europa League in his first season and a domestic double two years later.
Azpilicueta gained 55 caps for Spain at youth level in all age groups, and represented the under-21s in two European Championships, winning the 2011 edition. He made his first appearance with the full side in 2013, and was selected for the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016.
Azpilicueta was born in Pamplona, Navarre. A product of hometown club CA Osasuna's youth system, he made his La Liga debut on 8 April 2007 in a 0–2 away loss against Real Madrid, while still registered with the reserve team; he started his career as a forward then switched to midfielder and, throughout both his club and international career (senior and youth), appeared in several positions including central defender and central midfielder.