7 most memorable moments of Cesc Fàbregas: We examine the former Spain international’s career in English football, where he played for two of the Premier League’s top teams, Arsenal and Chelsea, as he turns 35yrs today.
Cesc Fàbregas, like the majority of us, doesn’t have much to do these days but sit at home and try to keep active, work as much as possible, and avoid boredom.
When the Premier League’s official Twitter account asked what his favorite Magic Hat memory from his time at Chelsea was, the man himself answered with the following list, in chronological order. And he didn’t even include the funniest red card ever.
1. First Premier League title
That first game set the tone for the remainder of the season, as Mourinho Mk. Chelsea II’s cruised to the title after defeating Manchester City in January.
Fàbregas, who is normally paired with Nemanja Mati in midfield, was the star of the show, racking up 18 (some sources state 19) assists, just one shy of Thierry Henry’s single-season record of 20.
2. Debut
Cesc made his competitive debut for Chelsea in the 2014-15 season’s first game, a 3-1 victory against Burnley at Turf Moor.
Soon after the Clarets grabbed a surprise lead, fellow debutant Diego Costa equalized, and then it was Fàbregas’ turn to put up one of the most beautiful goals in Chelsea history, finding André Schürrle with a brilliantly placed and weighted chipped pass. In the second half, Cesc added a second assist when his corner found Branislav Ivanović, who scored Chelsea’s third goal and sealed all three points for the Blues.
3. 100th Premier Assist
Chelsea tied the Premier League record of 13 straight wins on December 31, 2016, when they defeated Stoke City 4-2 at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea seized the lead twice, Stoke equalized twice, and just beyond the hour mark, Cesc put one on for Willian to give Chelsea the lead for sure.
Cesc Fàbregas became the first player to reach 100 assists in the Premier League in just 293 appearances, a record that was later certified by the Guinness Book of World Records.
4. His goal vs QPR
The hard-fought and relatively low-quality 1-0 grind-fest at Loftus Road against QPR, who were urgently battling to escape relegation, was an important win towards the conclusion of the 2014-15 campaign. Chelsea just had one shot on target the whole day, but it was enough to secure all three points.
Cesc directed his shot through a throng into the bottom corner in the 88th minute, and into his own memory banks, despite having difficulties breathing with the protective mask for his fractured nose (thanks, Charlie Adam’s elbow).
That goal, as well as all of his other goals and assists from that rookie season, may be seen at the 1:14 point of the video below.
Continue >>> 7 most memorable moments of Cesc Fàbregas
5. His 2nd Premier League title
Fàbregas didn’t play as much in 2016-17 as he did in 2014-15, but he was just as important to Conte’s Chelsea winning the title as he was to Mourinho’s two years before.
Many thought he had little chance of playing under Antonio Conte, which only added to his spectacular ascension to 12th man on the team, thoroughly persuading Conte of his ability along the way.
Cesc would add an FA Cup to his Chelsea resume a year later, completing a 4.5-year spell at the Bridge in which he won all three domestic tournaments (4 trophies in all).
6. 2nd of all-time Premier League assist
Later that season, Fàbregas registered his 103rd Premier League assist, moving him one assist ahead of Frank Lampard for second all-time.
Cesc would complete his Premier League career with 111 goals, whereas Ryan Giggs retains the record with 162, despite appearing in nearly twice as many games (632 vs. 350).
Diego Costa was on the receiving end of assist No.103 in a 4-2 victory over Southampton.
7. 350th PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH, HIS LAST AT STAMFORD BRIDGE
While Fàbregas’ final match in Chelsea colors would be the FA Cup third-round triumph over Nottingham Forest a few days later, his Premier League swansong came on January 2, 2019, when he played 22 minutes against Southampton in a 0-0 tie. He was short on his way to Monaco.
Cesc’s career at the Bridge was remarkable, from the loathed adversary in Arsenal and Barcelona colors to an audience favorite who departed with tears in his eyes (and still supports the club quite vocally on social media).
Cesc Fàbregas, thank you once more!
