This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Fàbregas and the second or maternal family name is Soler.
Fàbregas playing for Chelsea in 2015
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francesc Fàbregas Soler[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 4 May 1987 [1] | ||
| Place of birth | Arenys de Mar, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2] | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team
|
Chelsea | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–1997 | Mataró | ||
| 1997–2003 | Barcelona | ||
| 2003 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2003–2011 | Arsenal | 212 | (35) |
| 2011–2014 | Barcelona | 96 | (28) |
| 2014– | Chelsea | 43 | (3) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2002–2003 | Spain U16 | 8 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | Spain U17 | 14 | (7) |
| 2005 | Spain U20 | 5 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | Spain U21 | 12 | (8) |
| 2006– | Spain | 100 | (14) |
| 2004– | Catalonia | 3 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:20, 17 October 2015 (UTC). † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 October 2015 (UTC) |
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Fàbregas came through La Masia, the famous Barcelona youth academy, but departed aged just 16 when he was signed by English Premier League side Arsenal in September 2003. Following injuries to key midfielders in the early part of the 2004–05 season, he went on establish himself as a fixture in the starting XI despite his tender years. He would continue to be the cornerstone of the Arsenal midfield for the rest of his time with "The Gunners." He broke several of the club's records in the process, earning a reputation as one of the best players in his position. Despite enormous personal success, the only major honour he won at Arsenal was the FA Cup in 2004. After a protracted transfer saga Fàbregas left London on 15 August 2011 to return to Barcelona in a deal worth up to £35 million. During his three-year spell at the Camp Nou, Fàbregas played in a legendary midfield containing the likes of Xavi and Andrés Iniesta and won a La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and two Spanish Super Cups. Fàbregas returned to London in June 2014 to Arsenal's cross-town rivals Chelsea for a fee of £30 million. In his first year with "The Blues," Fàbregas was an instrumental presence in the team's midfield, helping to secure League Cup and Premier League triumphs.
Internationally, Fàbregas made his debut for the Spanish national team in March 2006 in a friendly match against the Ivory Coast. He represented his country in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008, 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2010 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2012, 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was a key figure in Spain's European Championship victories in 2008 and 2012 and their 2010 World Cup triumph in which he supplied the pass for Andrés Iniesta's winning goal in the final. On 12 October 2015, Fàbregas earned his 100th cap for Spain.
Born in Arenys de Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia,[3][4] to Francesc Fàbregas Sr., who runs a property company, and Núria Soler, the owner of a pastry company, Fàbregas has supported FC Barcelona since childhood and went to his first match when he was nine months old with his grandfather.[5] He began his club football career with CE Mataró before being signed for Barcelona's La Masia youth academy aged ten in 1997.[6] His first coach, Señor Blai, reportedly did not select Fàbregas for matches against Barcelona in an attempt to hide him from their scouts.[7] This tactic, however, was unable to withstand Barcelona for long, and Mataró gave in and allowed Fàbregas to train with Barcelona one day per week. Eventually Fàbregas joined Barcelona's academy full-time. His initial training was as a defensive midfielder playing alongside notable names such as Gerard Piqué and Lionel Messi. Although he was a prolific scorer, sometimes scoring even more than 30 goals in a season for the club's youth teams, he did not manage to play a first team game at the Camp Nou.[8] During his time at Barcelona's youth academy, Fàbregas idolised Barcelona's then-captain and number four Pep Guardiola, who would later give Fàbregas his shirt as consolation when Fàbregas' parents divorced.[9]Sensing that he would have limited opportunities at Barcelona,[10] Fàbregas joined Arsenal in their Academy,[11] signing for the London club on 11 September 2003.[4] Initially, he found life difficult in England's capital but soon struck a friendship with Spanish-speaking teammate Philippe Senderos, who helped him settle down.[12] As a 16-year-old, Fàbregas did not contemplate breaking into the first team immediately but looked up to senior players like Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva, while concentrating on training and learning the English language.[12] He nevertheless made his debut for Arsenal not long after, on 28 October 2003, in a League Cup tie at home to Rotherham United. In doing so, he became Arsenal's youngest-ever first team player, aged 16 years and 177 days.[13] He then became the youngest goalscorer in Arsenal's history in a later round of the League Cup, scoring in a 5–1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[14] Although Arsenal went on to win the league unbeaten in the 2003–04 season,[15] Fàbregas was not awarded a winner's medal because he did not play a single league game.[16]
It was not until the start of the 2004–05 season that the Spaniard started making first team appearances in matches outside the League Cup. His first match of the season was against Manchester United in the FA Community Shield. Following an injury to Vieira, Fàbregas stepped in and made four consecutive Premier League starts. He was praised for his performances in those games, even claiming a go
After the departure of Patrick Vieira to Juventus, Fàbregas was given the Frenchman's number 4 shirt and featured regularly in the Arsenal central midfield alongside Gilberto Silva. He made 49 appearances in all competitions during the 2005–06 season.[16] Despite his young age, his performances came under greater scrutiny due to his increased involvement in the first team. Further, as Fàbregas possessed a smaller frame and played with less aggression than Vieira, there were initially doubts over his ability to fill in the void left by the Frenchman.[27] Nevertheless, Fàbregas asserted his own style of play and impressed pundits in the Champions League against Real Madrid and Juventus.[28][29][30] In the latter, he scored Arsenal's first goal and set up Thierry Henry for the second,[28] at the same time proving that he could compete against tough, hard-tackling midfielders like Vieira.[30] He then played in the Final against his former club Barcelona, but Arsenal were defeated 2–1,[31] completing a trophyless 2005–06 campaign for Arsenal.On 15 August 2011, Barcelona signed Fàbregas for an initial fee of €29 million with a further €5 million in variables, plus Fàbregas would pay Arsenal €1 million a year from his wage for five years.[67][68] ending one of the most protracted transfer sagas in recent times. Statistics show that in the five years prior to Fàbregas's departure from Arsenal, Fàbregas created 466 goal-scoring chances, made 86 assists and scored 48 goals, all three statistics topping those of new teammates Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta despite both having made more appearances in the same period.[69][70]On 12 June 2014, English Premier League team Chelsea signed Fàbregas on a five-year contract for a fee in the region of €33 million. Following his transfer he took the number 4 shirt, previously worn by David Luiz.[76][77] Fàbregas spoke of his transfer, saying, "I asked Barcelona to find a way for me to leave the club, The president tried to stop the sale, but I already had my mind made up." He went on to say, "If I didn't think that I'd be happy at Chelsea, I would've never made this decision. Above all, I want to be happy both professionally and personally."[78]
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