César Azpilicueta
Encyclopedia
César Azpilicueta Tanco (born 28 August 1989 in Pamplona
, Navarre
) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Olympique de Marseille
in France
, as a right defender.
's youth system, Azpilicueta made his La Liga
debut on 8 April 2007, in a 0–2 away defeat against Real Madrid
, while still registered with the reserve team
. He started his career as a midfielder
.
In 2007–08, with other teammates injured, Azpilicueta established himself as a first team regular at the age of just 18 became first-choice, albeit as right defender. He went on to retain this position for the following season, appearing in all but two games for the club.
On 21 June 2010, French
club Olympique de Marseille
confirmed an agreement had been reached with Osasuna for the transfer of Azpilicueta, in a four-year contract for €
7 million. A week later, the Navarre
se confirmed the agreement, with the transfer fee possibly rising to as much as €9.5 million, depending on appearances. In his UEFA Champions League
debut, in a home game against FC Spartak Moscow
, he scored the match's only goal, but in his own net
.
On 27 November 2010, in the early minutes of a 4–0 home win against Montpellier HSC
- which meant Marseille climbed to the top of the league
- Azpilicueta ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament
s in his left knee
, being sidelined for six months.
, Azpilicueta helped Spain's U19
win the UEFA European Championship
. Shortly after, he upgraded to the under-21s
, being picked for the 2009 European Championships
in Sweden
, starting three matches in an eventual group stage exit.
On 11 May 2010, 20-year old Azpilicueta was named by senior side
manager Vicente del Bosque
in a provisional list of 30 players, in view of the forthcoming
FIFA World Cup
; eventually, he did not make the final cut.
Spain U21
Pamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
, Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
) is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who plays for Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, as a right defender.
Club career
A product of hometown side CA OsasunaCA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
's youth system, Azpilicueta made his La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
debut on 8 April 2007, in a 0–2 away defeat against Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, while still registered with the reserve team
CA Osasuna B
Club Atlético Osasuna B, usually known as Osasuna B, is a Spanish football club based in Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre...
. He started his career as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
In 2007–08, with other teammates injured, Azpilicueta established himself as a first team regular at the age of just 18 became first-choice, albeit as right defender. He went on to retain this position for the following season, appearing in all but two games for the club.
On 21 June 2010, French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
club Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
confirmed an agreement had been reached with Osasuna for the transfer of Azpilicueta, in a four-year contract for €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
7 million. A week later, the Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
se confirmed the agreement, with the transfer fee possibly rising to as much as €9.5 million, depending on appearances. In his UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
debut, in a home game against FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...
, he scored the match's only goal, but in his own net
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
.
On 27 November 2010, in the early minutes of a 4–0 home win against Montpellier HSC
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...
- which meant Marseille climbed to the top of the league
2010–11 Ligue 1
The 2010–11 Ligue 1 season was the 73rd since its establishment. Entering the season, Marseille were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 21 May 2010 and the season began on 7 August and ended on 29 May 2011. The winter break was in effect between 23 December and 15 January 2011...
- Azpilicueta ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
s in his left knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
, being sidelined for six months.
International career
In 20072007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
-Group B:-------------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:---------Final:-----Teams:-Top goalscorers:-External links:* at uefa.com...
, Azpilicueta helped Spain's U19
Spain national under-19 football team
The Spain national under-19 football team represents Spain in international football at this age level and is controlled by Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain.-UEFA European Under-19 Championship Record:...
win the UEFA European Championship
UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
The European Under 19 Football Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. The competition has been held since 1948. It was originally called the FIFA junior tournament, until it was taken over by UEFA in 1955...
. Shortly after, he upgraded to the under-21s
Spain national under-21 football team
The Spain national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita , competes in the biannual European Under-21 Football Championship.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth...
, being picked for the 2009 European Championships
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship began on 15 June 2009, and was the 17th UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. This was the first tournament after the competition reverted to a two-year format, following the single-year 2006-07 competition, which allowed the change to...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, starting three matches in an eventual group stage exit.
On 11 May 2010, 20-year old Azpilicueta was named by senior side
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
manager Vicente del Bosque
Vicente Del Bosque
Vicente del Bosque González, 1st Marquis of Del Bosque is a former Spanish footballer He is currently the manager of the Spanish national football team. After taking over from Luis Aragonés who had led Spain to European success in Euro 2008, Del Bosque went on to manage the national team to the...
in a provisional list of 30 players, in view of the forthcoming
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
; eventually, he did not make the final cut.
Club
Marseille- Trophée des ChampionsTrophée des championsThe Trophée des champions , is a French association football trophy contested in an annual match between the champions of Ligue 1 and the winners of the Coupe de France. It is equivalent to the Super Cups found in many countries...
: 20102010 Trophée des ChampionsThe 2010 Trophée des champions was the 15th edition of the French supercup. The match was contested by the winners of Ligue 1 the previous season, Olympique de Marseille, and the winners of the Coupe de France the previous season, Paris Saint-Germain. The match was played, for the second...
, 20112011 Trophée des ChampionsThe 2011 Trophée des champions was the 16th edition of the French supercup. The match was to be contested by the winners of Ligue 1 the previous season, Lille, and the defending Coupe de France champions. However, due to Lille also winning the Coupe de France the previous season, the club faced...
Country
Spain U19- UEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipUEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipThe European Under 19 Football Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. The competition has been held since 1948. It was originally called the FIFA junior tournament, until it was taken over by UEFA in 1955...
: 20072007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship-Group B:-------------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:---------Final:-----Teams:-Top goalscorers:-External links:* at uefa.com...
Spain U21
- UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipUEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
: 20112011 UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipUEFA U-21 Championship 2011 was the 18th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship. The final tournament was hosted by Denmark between 11 and 25 June 2011....