Francesc Fabregas

Player Information

Full name: Francesc Fábregas Soler
Date of birth: May 04, 1987
Birthplace: Arenys de Mar, Catalonia, Spain
Nationality: Spanish
EU passport: Yes
Height: 177 cms
Weight: 69 kgs

Club: Arsenal
Position: Midfielder/Attacking Midfielder [C]
Squad Number: 4
Contract expires: June 2014
Previous clubs: (youth) Barcelona > Arsenal

International debut: March 2005, v China
International Caps: 24
International Goals: 0
World Cups: Germany 2006

Awards

UEFA European Football Championship (2008)

English FA Cup (2005)

FIFA U-17 World Cup MVP (2003)
FIFA U-17 World Cup Top Scorer (2003)
English FA Premier League Young Footballer of the Year (2008)

Biography

1987
Born May 4 in Arenys de Mar, Catalonia, Spain.
2003
August: Member of the Spanish team that reached the FIFA U-17 World Championship final in Finland, scoring 5 goals.
2005
March: Becomes the youngest player to debut for Spain in 63 years when he played in an exhibition game against China at 18.
June: Member of the Spanish team that reached the FIFA World Youth Championship quarterfinals.
2006
July: Short-listed for the best young player at the 2006 FIFA World Cup award.
August 12: Declared he is happy at Arsenal. "At my age - or any age - I do not think there is a better club to be at than Arsenal," he added.
August 14: Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon admitted that Fabregas will not now arrive at the club this season.
September 12: Arsene Wenger revealed that midfielder Cesc Fabregas will sign a new eight-year contract.
October 17: Included among the 50 nominees for the European Footballer of the Year Award.
2007
February 25: Member of the "Young Arsenal" squad that lost the English League Cup final against Chelsea 1-2 in the Millennium Stadium.
2008
April 27: Voted Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year, in the same ceremony he was also included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
June 29: Won the UEFA Euro 2008 with Spain after defeating Germany 1-0 in the final. He contributed to the team effort but was overshadowed by his midfield peers.
June 30: Selected by the UEFA Technical Team in the official UEFA EURO 2008 Team of the Tournament.

FIFA World Cup™ Germany 2006 player's profile

Fabregas is being groomed to become Spain’s midfield playmaker of the future. The Arsenal youngster has so far passed every test with flying colours, holding his place in a star-studded line-up in the Premiership and in the UEFA Champions League. A brilliant passer with an eye for goal, Fabregas won the Golden Boot and the most valuable player award at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship. He also starred for Spain at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship before making his senior debut in March 2006.

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UEFA Champions League 2005-06 player's profile

Spanish midfield playmaker Cesc Fabregas is a brilliant passer of the ball with an eye for goal and is one of a crop of outstanding youngsters beginning to establish themselves at Highbury.

National team
Fabregas was voted the player of the tournament at the 2003 FIFA Under-17 World Championship and won the Golden Boot after his six goals helped Spain reach the final. He was a key member of the Spanish squad in the 2004 UEFA Under-17 European Championship, and scored a vital 89th-minute goal against England to take the team through to the final. Has since stepped up to U21 level.

Club
Despite coming through the ranks at FC Barcelona, Fabregas moved to Arsenal FC in September 2003 at the age of 16 having never played a first-team game at Camp Nou.

2003: After impressing with the reserves, he became the youngest player to feature in the Arsenal first team when, at 16 years and 177 days, he made his debut in the English League Cup against Rotherham United FC on 28 October.

2004/05: Fabregas made his Premiership debut in the 4-1 win away to Everton FC on the opening day of the season and went on to start 24 matches as Arsenal finished second in the league. He opened his Premiership scoring account in the 3-0 win against Blackburn Rovers FC on 25 August and scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in December's 5-1 victory against Rosenborg BK.

Did you know?
Fabregas is the youngest-ever Arsenal goalscorer, having found the net at the age of 16 years and 212 days in the 5-1 League Cup win against Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in December 2003.

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