One story sums it up perfectly. Before Chelsea’s Champions League final victory against Manchester City in 2021, Azpilicueta could not take his customary pre-match nap. Instead of tossing and turning under the weight of the impending pressure, he opted to study.
He recalls that his academic work towards a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in business management from the Berlin School of Business and Innovation successfully took his mind off the intense pressure and noisy streets of Porto. Later that same day, he proudly lifted the prestigious Champions League trophy after captaining Chelsea to European glory.
Azpilicueta, now 37, opened up about his academic pursuits during an interview with BBC Sport, speaking from Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. Sitting at the home of one of Chelsea’s fiercest rivals, he joked that he did not feel entirely comfortable in the venue, even as he was there to collect a diploma in global football sport directorship through the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Business School. This latest achievement adds to a growing portfolio of academic credentials that already includes a prestigious diploma from the Harvard Business School.
Reflecting on the foundations of his academic drive, Azpilicueta explained that his pursuit of knowledge began long before he ever kicked a ball professionally. "When I was a kid my parents pushed me to get good grades and finish school," he said. "I wasn’t a professional footballer until I was 17, in my last year of school. Education was always important."
When the global Covid-19 pandemic brought the sporting world to a sudden halt, footballers suddenly found themselves with unprecedented amounts of free time. While many players turned to video games, golf simulators, or social media challenges, Azpilicueta looked inward and outward for intellectual stimulation.
"When Covid-19 arrived, we had more time," he noted. "I found some courses but I didn’t start because I thought it was the end of my career. It was more that I wanted to learn, improve myself and do it in another language. It wasn’t because I thought it was my last year as a footballer, but it did help me navigate the final years of my career, become a better person and a better footballer."
Now officially retired from professional playing after spending the final chapter of his career last season with Spanish side Sevilla, the veteran defender is weighing his next moves. When asked if he could eventually transition into a role as a sporting director, he responded with a cautious "maybe." However, he was quick to emphasize that the relentless mental and physical demands of football have left him in immediate need of a substantial post-career break.
He is currently navigating a completely different stage of life. In fact, he admitted that he cannot even contemplate lacing up his boots for a casual game of football with friends, knowing full well that his deeply ingrained competitive instincts would instantly take over and ruin the relaxed atmosphere.
"It was time to stop playing football because, even though I could probably still play, I didn’t have the energy to commit myself fully for an entire season," he reflected candidly. "At the moment I have another commitment, which is my family. I want to play some golf and enjoy life. For 20 years I was constantly travelling, playing and preparing for seasons. This summer looked completely different."
Azpilicueta’s remarkable journey to the pinnacle of European football is a testament to his adaptability and resilience. After beginning his professional footballing education at his boyhood club Osasuna in Spain, he made a notable move to French side Marseille, an experience that required him to learn a new language and adapt to a different culture. However, it was his transfer to Chelsea in the summer of 2012 that proved to be truly transformative for his life and career.
Completing his latest high-level courses highlights Azpilicueta’s unwavering thirst for knowledge and a relentless desire for constant self-improvement. It was a culture of excellence that he first encountered upon arriving at Stamford Bridge, where he walked through the doors as a relatively low-profile £7 million signing. He entered a dressing room brimming with established, larger-than-life leaders such as John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Petr Cech, alongside global star names including Fernando Torres, Eden Hazard, and Ashley Cole.
"I started as a right winger, moved to France, then moved to Chelsea," Azpilicueta recalled, mapping out his professional evolution. "I wasn’t a star signing. I had to find my way. Left-back, wing-back, centre-back in a back three. It was about consistency. I had to work hard to stay fit, adapt to different managers and different positions."
The competitive environment at Stamford Bridge demanded nothing less than perfection from its players, a standard that left an indelible mark on the Spanish defender. "When you arrive at Chelsea, you feel the ambition straight away," he explained. "Every three days you have to win. Every game and every trophy matters. That culture pushed me to the maximum and, especially when I left Chelsea, I felt that I had given everything I had for the club."
Azpilicueta’s academic pursuits away from the pitch played a crucial role in developing him into the authoritative leader who would eventually wear the captain’s armband at Stamford Bridge. The analytical mindset and communication skills he honed through his studies gave him the confidence to step up and represent Premier League players during the unprecedented challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, those same leadership qualities proved invaluable in helping to organize internal initiatives and keep the club moving forward smoothly during a period of immense turbulence after owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
While his defining moment on the pitch undoubtedly came when he hoisted the Champions League trophy aloft in Porto in 2021, his broader legacy is written in the club’s history books. Having naturally succeeded John Terry and then Gary Cahill as club captain, Azpilicueta firmly ranks among Chelsea’s greatest-ever leaders. Yet, despite his legendary status at Stamford Bridge, he revealed that since leaving the club in the summer of 2023, he has not yet returned to visit his old stomping ground.
His departure came amid a massive wave of transition as Chelsea underwent a seismic shift in ownership, moving from Abramovich to the current American-led consortium in 2022. Dozens of players and long-serving staff departed during that chaotic period of restructuring.
"I left Chelsea, but Chelsea will always stay in my heart," he said warmly. "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 a bit of time. You need connections, people playing together and understanding each other."
Offering his perspective on the immense pressure cooker of modern club football, Azpilicueta defended the high standards expected at his former club. "At a big club like Chelsea, the demands are high. But I think that’s 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 the manager, the staff and the players will do good work. Hopefully they can bring a lot of happiness to the fans."
He has been keeping a close eye on Chelsea’s current squad, particularly following the progression of his successor as captain, Reece James. Azpilicueta expressed his belief that James will continue to grow into an even better leader, especially with the added stability of experienced heads like over-30 players Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck, and Emiliano Martinez having joined the broader footballing conversation over the summer.
When the conversation turns to the prospect of a potential return to Stamford Bridge in some official capacity—where he would undoubtedly be greeted by a hero’s welcome and thunderous applause from the supporters who idolized him for over a decade—Azpilicueta remains characteristically modest and grounded.
"I don’t know about that," he said with a smile. "I will come back one day. I won’t be putting on my boots, though."