Nearly 20 full years since his first senior appearance, Cesc Fabregas has called time on a storied career.
The Spanish international was just 16 years old when he became Arsenal's youngest ever player, enjoying a cup outing during the famed 'Invincibles' season. Two decades on, and a few weeks after his 36th birthday, the Como midfielder confirmed he has played his final game.
"It is with great sadness that the time has come for me to hang up my playing boots," he said in a statement. "From my first days at Barca, Arsenal, Barca again, Chelsea, Monaco and Como, I will treasure them all.
"From lifting the World Cup, the Euros, to winning everything in England and Spain and nearly all the European trophies, it has been a journey that I’ll never forget," he added. Theveteran will now become a full-time member of Como's coaching staff, having admitted to falling in love with the Italian team.
Over the years, there have been too many memorable Cesc Fabregas moments to count. Here, Mirror Football takes a look back at some stand-out moments which show why so many have so much fondness for him.
1. Putting Spurs to the sword
There's nothing like a goal in a North London Derby to win over Arsenal fans. Fabregas had already won their hearts several times over before the autumn of 2009, but he added some gloss in a Halloween triumph.
It was Robin van Persie who scored Arsenal's first, but Fabregas doubled the lead just 11 seconds after the restart. Capitalising on a giveaway from Wilson Palacios, Fabregas burst through a number of challenges before beating Heurelho Gomes from the edge of the box.
A goal and two assists in a White Hart Lane win in 2007 was another highlight in Fabregas' Arsenal career. This one, though, had an extra celebratory note to it.
2. Putting his body on the line
By the time Arsenal played Barcelona in 2010, Fabregas was wearing the captain's armband for the Gunners on the grandest of stages. After a Zlatan Ibrahimovic double looked to have sent Barca through, Arsene Wenger's side rebounded to draw 2-2 with their skipper equalising from the penalty spot.
What we didn't know at the time, however, was that Fabregas was seriously injured at the time. His decision to play through the pain barrier wasn't enough to see his team through, despite Nicklas Bendtner putting them in front at Camp Nou, but it was still the kind of thing all fans will remember.
"Some people think I may have even broken the leg against Birmingham a week earlier - and, to be honest, I just don't know," the midfielder said. "Yes, it's exactly the same spot but I didn't go into the game against Barcelona thinking 'My leg's broken'.''
3. An unbelievable assist
When Fabregas returned to the Premier League in 2014, it was for Chelsea rather than Arsenal. Some had questions - surely if he still had elite quality then Arsenal would have brought him back - but they were answered just 20 minutes into his debut.
Nearly a decade on, fans still talk about the pass for Andre Schurrle's goal against Burnley. The calm first-time delivery, and the control of the pace on the ball when others might have thumped it into touch.
That season ended with Fabregas becoming a Premier League champion with Chelsea. It's something he never managed in Arsenal red, but it's undoubtedly something he deserved.
4. Showing where his heart lies
There were still some who weren't delighted to see him move across London, even if there was a spell back at Barcelona in the middle. Some also let their feelings become clear when Fabregas pointed to his chest while taking on his former club.
A section of the Gunners support booed their former captain during the game. He responded by pointing at his chest, and some interpreted this as him pointing to the Chelsea badge, but the truth was rather different.
"If you think I’m capable of doing what you are suggesting I did, you don’t know me at all and my feelings towards all of you what so ever," he told one fan. "I was actually telling the fans they will always be in my heart, but of course your interpretation must be miss guided [sic] by a simple image."
5. Ending Spain's misery
When Euro 2008 rolled around, Spain had gone more than 40 years without a major tournament win. Without Fabregas, the wait might have gone on even longer.
Luis Aragones' side won three out of three in their group, with Fabregas on target against Russia, but quarter-final opponents Italy presented a tougher task. The reigning world champions took the game to penalties after a goalless draw, and Spain had lost three of their previous four shootouts - including against England at Euro 96.
Spain led 3-2 when Fabregas stepped up for their fifth kick, knowing the significance and recognising he had Gigi Buffon to beat. He sent the keeper the wrong way, paving the way for Spain to kick on and beat Russia (again) and Germany to become champions of Europe.
6. Achieving international immortality
Two years after that Euros triumph, there was a World Cup win. Two years after that came Euro 2012 and a change for an unprecedented three in a row.
Once again, penalties were needed - this time in the semi-final against Portugal. Xabi Alonso missed with Spain's first-kick, but failures from Portugal pair Joao Moutinho and Bruno Alves gave Fabregas another shot at glory.
Once again, he made no mistake, and he followed it up with an assist in the final as Italy were put to the sword. Cesc Fabregas will forever be associated with one of Spanish football's finest ever eras.
7. A favourite off the pitch
Not only that, but he took aim at the UK government to win more fans among those who weren't huge fans of Boris Johnson et al. In March 2020, before the UK went into Covid lockdown, Fabregas' response to a Boris Johnson press conference showed he had no qualms about giving his opinion.
"So, you’re saying and admitting the disease will spread so much over the next weeks/months but you’re not closing schools “just yet”..." he asked on Twitter. "You will have to close them eventually anyway. Why not do it now and avoid more trouble? #LetsBeResponsable."
[mirror.co.uk]