Cesc Fàbregas

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Personal information
Francesc Fàbregas
Full name	Francesc Fàbregas Soler
Date of birth	May 4 1987 (age 22)
Place of birth	Arenys de Mar, Catalonia, Spain
Height	1.8m (5'11")
Nickname	Cesc
Position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Arsenal
Number	4
Youth clubs
2002-2003	FC Barcelona B
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
2003-present	Arsenal	77 (5)
National team**
2006-	Spain	14 (0)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 November 2006 (UTC). ** National team caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2006.

Francesc "Cesc" Fàbregas Soler (born May 4, 1987 in Arenys de Mar, Catalonia, Spain) (IPA: /sesk fabɾəgas/), is a Catalan Spanish footballer who currently plays as a central midfielder for Arsenal in the English Premier League and for the Spanish national team. Fàbregas started his career at FC Barcelona B but was signed by Arsenal in mid-2003 before he could sign a professional contract with FC Barcelona.

Fàbregas is one of the best of Spain's next generation of footballers. He is able to play as an attack-minded midfielder, with the ability to play eye-of-the-needle passes. Additionally, at Arsenal he has occasionally been used out-of-position as a right-side midfielder.

1 Club career
2 International career
3 Club career
4 Trivia
5 Notes
6 External links

[edit] Club career

Before joining Arsenal, Fabregas had made his way into the Barcelona B team and then taken part in the FIFA U-17 World Championship in 2003, winning both the Adidas Golden Shoe (for top goalscorer) and Golden Ball (for best player). Spain finished second in the tournament to Brazil.

Fàbregas made his team debut on October 23 2003 in a League Cup tie at home to Rotherham United, and in doing so became Arsenal's youngest ever first-team player, aged 16 years and 177 days. He then became the youngest goalscorer in Arsenal's history in a later round of the League Cup, scoring from very close range in a 5–1 victory against Wolves.

However, it was not until the start of the 2004–05 season that Fàbregas started making first team appearances in matches outside the League Cup. His first match was against Manchester United in the Community Shield; he then had four successive Premier League starts against Everton, Middlesbrough, Blackburn Rovers and Norwich City. Fabregas impressed many observers^{[Please name specific person or group]} in his first four appearances,^{[citation needed]} claiming a goal against Blackburn in a 3–0 victory. Soon after, he became the second youngest goalscorer in Champions League history after scoring the third goal against Rosenborg, in Arsenal's 5–1 victory.

After the departure of Arsenal captain, Patrick Vieira, Fàbregas became a first-team regular in the Arsenal midfield, making 48 appearances in the 2005–06 season. He initially struggled to impose himself in an Arsenal side considered by many to be too lightweight and was often criticised for his lack of tangible productivity.^{[citation needed]}

Despite these criticisms, he was lauded for his performance in the UEFA Champions League. He was praised especially for his performance against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the second round of the UEFA Champions League and earned further plaudits for his performance against Juventus in the quarter-finals; he scored Arsenal's first goal and set up Thierry Henry for the second. Fàbregas was highly praised by teammates and the press alike, who compared him to the likes of Wayne Rooney and Ronaldinho and even greats like Johnny Haynes and Gérson.<ref>Hugh McIlvanney: Fàbregas a leader in waiting, The Times, 2006-03-26</ref>.

Fàbregas helped Arsenal's 2006–07 Champions League campaign get started on August 8, 2006, by scoring two goals in a 3–0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier.

Fàbregas's performances have attracted a considerable number of admirers in his homeland. In particular Real Madrid have expressed a desire to secure his services despite his long term contract at Arsenal. <ref> Real confident of securing Cesc's signature, Sky Sports </ref> However, on July 12, Arsène Wenger stated that Arsenal would listen to no offers for Cesc.<ref> Wenger: Fàbregas is not for sale, he is Arsenal's future, Arsenal, July 12, 2006</ref> In September 2006, with 6 years left on his deal, Wenger offered a new eight-year deal to Fabregas, which was signed on October 19 2006, keeping the Spaniard at the club until he is 27 years old <ref>Fàbregas to sign new Arsenal deal, BBC News Online</ref><ref>Fàbregas signs new Arsenal deal, BBC News Online</ref>.

Fabregas was a runaway winner of the Golden Boy award on 2nd December 2006, presented by Italian paper TuttoSport, based on a poll of leading writers across Europe.<ref>Fàbregas wins Golden Boy award, Daily Mirror</ref>

[edit] International career

On March 1 2006 Fàbregas played his first game for the Spanish senior team, becoming the youngest player capped for Spain in 80 years. He received good reviews for his début^{[citation needed]}, contributing an assist for Spain's first goal in a 3–2 victory over the Côte d'Ivoire.

On May 15, 2006, Fàbregas was selected for the Spanish World Cup squad. In the 2006 World Cup, he came on as a second-half substitute in Spain's first two group matches, contributing an assist in their 3–1 victory against Tunisia. He then started alongside Spain's reserve players (including then Arsenal teammate José Antonio Reyes) in Spain's third group match against Saudi Arabia. He earned a starting role in Spain's first knockout stage match against France in place of Marcos Senna, but Spain lost that match 3–1.

On June 14, 2006, Fàbregas became the youngest player in Spanish history to participate in a World Cup when he came on as a substitute for Luis García after 77 minutes in a 4–0 victory against Ukraine. He was then 19 years and 41 days old.

Cesc was nominated for the Gillette Young Player of the World Cup 2006, although he did not win.

[edit] Club career

(correct as of 29 November 2006)

Club	Season	League			Cup<ref>Includes FA Cup, League Cup and FA Community Shield</ref>		Europe		Total
Club	Season	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Arsenal	2003–04	—	—	—	3	1	—	—	3	1
	2004–05	33	2	3	8	—	5	1	46	3
	2005–06	35	3	5	2	1	13	1	50	5
	2006–07	13	0	6	—	—	6	2	19	2
Career totals									118	11

[edit] Trivia

He has a sister named Carlotta.^{[citation needed]}
Even though Fàbregas is right-footed, he is left-handed.^{[citation needed]}
He was given shirt number 4 by Arsenal for the 2006–07 season. This is the same number his idol Josep Guardiola wore when he played for FC Barcelona and the same number previously worn for Arsenal by former captain Patrick Vieira.
He remains a season-ticket holder at the Nou Camp and his family still live near the city.^{[citation needed]}
He drives an Audi A3.^{[citation needed]}
He is fluent in Catalan, French, Spanish and English.<ref>The joy of Cesc, Evening Standard, 2006-03-29</ref>
He is actually Francesc Junior as his dad is also named Francesc.
Has a tattoo on his right wrist that says "cf", his initials.

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

Profile at Arsenal.com
Profile at premierleague.com
Spain Teenager Fabregas Sparks World Cup Rally, Wows Maradona

Image:Flag of Spain.svg	Spain squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup	Image:Flag of Spain.svg
1 Casillas \| 2 Salgado \| 3 Pernía \| 4 Marchena \| 5 Puyol \| 6 Albelda \| 7 Raúl \| 8 Xavi \| 9 Torres \| 10 Reyes \| 11 García \| 12 López \| 13 Iniesta \| 14 Alonso \| 15 Ramos \| 16 Senna \| 17 Joaquín \| 18 Fàbregas \| 19 Cañizares \| 20 Juanito \| 21 Villa \| 22 Pablo \| 23 Reina \| Coach: Aragonés

Arsenal F.C. - Current Squad
1 Lehmann \| 2 Diaby \| 4 Fàbregas \| 5 Touré \| 6 Senderos \| 7 Rosický \| 8 Ljungberg \| 9 Baptista \| 10 Gallas \| 11 van Persie \| 12 Lauren \| 13 Hleb \| 14 Henry \| 15 Denílson \| 16 Flamini \| 17 Song \| 19 Gilberto \| 20 Djourou \| 21 Poom \| 22 Clichy \| 24 Almunia \| 25 Adebayor \| 27 Eboué \| 30 Aliadière \| 31 Hoyte \| 32 Walcott \| Manager: Wenger

Persondata
NAME	Fàbregas, Cesc
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Fàbregas Soler, Francesc
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Professional football player
DATE OF BIRTH	May 4, 1987
PLACE OF BIRTH	Arenys de Mar, Catalonia, Spain
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH