Cesc Fabregas, a former midfielder for Chelsea, Barcelona, and Arsenal, has declared his immediate retirement from the game.
The 36-year-old ends a career that included victories with Spain in the World Cup, twice at Chelsea in the Premier League, and with Barcelona in La Liga.
Fabregas wrote on Instagram, “It is with great sadness that I must hang up my playing boots.”
He leaves Italian club Como in Serie B after one year of a two-year contract. Fabregas will now take up coaching Como’s youth and reserve teams.
Nevertheless, he continued, “it’s not all sadness, as I’m about to cross the white line and begin coaching the B and Primavera teams of Como 1907.”A group and a project about which I am incredibly enthusiastic.
“This adorable football club came to me at the ideal time in my career and won my heart from the first minute.
“Now that we’ve had 20 great years filled with joy, sacrifice, and devotion, it’s time to thank you and bid farewell to the beautiful game. “I enjoyed every second.”
At age 10 in 1997, Fabregas enrolled in Barca’s La Masia Academy. He went through the youth system of the La Liga giants, played 212 Premier League games, won the FA Cup with Arsenal between 2004 and 2011, and then transferred back to Barcelona. He spent three years at the Nou Camp before joining Chelsea in 2014 and spending just under 200 games there.
Before moving to Como, he played in 68 matches over three and a half years with Monaco, although injuries limited his playing time.
In addition to winning the European Championship twice in 2008 and 2012. He played 110 times for Spain, Fabregas also helped the nation win its first World Cup in South Africa.
He continued, “I will cherish them all, from my early days at Barcelona, Arsenal, Barca again, Chelsea, Monaco, and Como.
It has been a trip that I’ll never forget, from winning the World Cup and the Euros to taking home every trophy in England and Spain and almost all of the European trophies.
