Cesar Azpilicueta may not have been Chelsea's blockbuster signing, but he has consistently proven to be an unlikely hero and the glue that holds everything together.
Azpilicueta's journey at Chelsea is quite peculiar. He joined the club from Marseille in 2012 for a modest fee of £7m, which is only a fraction of what players like Christian Pulisic earn in a single year. Nevertheless, Azpilicueta is the player every coach desires to have in their squad.
Chelsea's Bargain Gem When Jose Mourinho needed a replacement for Ashley Cole at left-back, he turned to Azpilicueta, even though the Spaniard was initially signed as a right-back.
When Antonio Conte aimed to transition to his preferred three-back formation, he entrusted Azpilicueta, despite his prior experience solely as a traditional full-back for Chelsea.
When Maurizio Sarri sought a new captain following Gary Cahill's departure, he handed the armband to Azpilicueta, even though Eden Hazard seemed to be the more popular choice among teammates. Some believed that appointing Hazard as captain would help convince him to stay at the club.
The "Mourinho Brother" Azpilicueta bid farewell to Chelsea after spending 11 years at the club. Photo: Reuters . Azpilicueta did not arrive at Chelsea as an expensive signing, nor did he make a grand entrance. However, he quickly became a beloved figure at Stamford Bridge, earning the nickname "Dave." This nickname was bestowed upon him by John Terry, who had difficulties remembering his teammates' names. Thus, Terry simply called him "Dave."
Most significantly, Azpilicueta consistently won over the next generation of Chelsea managers throughout the past decade. "Azpilicueta is the type of player I truly admire," said Mourinho in 2014. "I believe a team with 11 Azpilicuetas could win the Champions League because football is more than just pure talent."
Azpilicueta's impact on Chelsea goes beyond his abilities on the pitch. His versatility, leadership, and dedication have made him a valuable asset and an unlikely hero for the club.
