Completing his latest course underscores Azpilicueta’s strong appetite for learning and his commitment to continual self-improvement.
That mindset traces back to his early years at Chelsea, when he arrived as a modest £7m signing in a dressing room stacked with established leaders such as John Terry, Frank Lampard and Petr Cech, alongside star names including Fernando Torres, Eden Hazard and Ashley Cole.
He recalled: “I started as a right winger, moved to France, and then came to Chelsea. I was not a star signing. I had to find my way. I played at left-back, wing-back and centre-back in a back three.”
“Consistency was everything. I had to work hard to stay fit, adapt to different managers and different positions.”
“When you arrive at Chelsea, you feel the ambition straight away. You have to win every three days. Every match and every trophy matters.”
“That culture pushed me to the limit and, especially when I left Chelsea, I felt that I had given everything I had for the club.”
Azpilicueta also explained how his education away from the pitch helped him develop into a leader at Stamford Bridge.
It gave him the confidence to represent Premier League players during the pandemic, while also helping him organise initiatives and keep the club moving forward after owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
His defining moment came in the 2021 Champions League final victory.
Having succeeded Terry and then Gary Cahill as captain, there is little doubt that Azpilicueta ranks among Chelsea’s greatest leaders. Yet he revealed that, since leaving the club in 2023, he has not returned to Stamford Bridge.
He was among dozens of players to depart after Chelsea’s ownership changed from Abramovich to the current American-led consortium in 2022.
“I left Chelsea, but Chelsea will always stay in my heart,” he said. “I follow every game and I hope the club comes back to where it belongs.”
“There are some very strong teams around, and football sometimes needs time. You need connections, people playing together and understanding each other.”
“At a big club like Chelsea, the demands are high. But I think that is normal. It should be demanding and ambitious because, speaking as a Chelsea fan, you always want to see the club winning trophies.”
“I have confidence that Xabi Alonso, the staff and the players will do good work. Hopefully they can bring a lot of happiness to the fans.”
He has been following Chelsea’s latest captain Reece James, who he believes will grow into an even better leader, particularly after over-30 players Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck and Emiliano Martinez joined during the summer.
When it was suggested that he might return to Stamford Bridge in some capacity and receive a warm reception from supporters, Azpilicueta responded modestly: “I don’t know about that.”
“I will come back one day. I won’t be putting on my boots, though.”
