28 October marks 20 years to the day Cesc Fàbregas who has been reminiscing about that day
20 years ago, on October 28, 2003, a 16-year-old Cesc Fàbregas made his professional debut for Arsenal in a League Cup match against Rotherham.
Signed from Barcelona in September 2003, the then-teenager from Arenys de Mar had caught the attention of Arsenal coach Arsène Wenger, who was captivated by Fàbregas’s performance for Spain in the Under 17 World Cup.
On that fateful day, Fàbregas not only played but broke the record as Arsenal‘s youngest-ever player, a record previously held by Jermaine Pennant.
Cesc Fàbregas, now 36, and currently coaching the reserve team of Italian Serie B side Como, opened up about his experiences from that transformative day.
“I have spectacular feelings about that day,” Fàbregas said.
“I didn’t know what was going on. Two hours before, Wenger told me. My parents had come by surprise because the club had notified them.
“After the game, everyone congratulated me and I went to have a quick dinner with my parents. Then, I went to the Lady’s house where I lived, eating a Kinder Bueno. It was incredible.”
Reminiscing about the match, which ended 1-1 and was eventually decided on penalties in Arsenal‘s favour, Fàbregas said, “I was a little nervous at the beginning, but it was a good match.
“I played against very physical people, who put pressure on me very quickly. I handled it very well too, thank you to my teammates, among them, the Brazilian Edu, who gave me peace of mind and spoke to me in Spanish.”
He acknowledged that his life changed significantly after joining Arsenal and attributed his successful career to the club and Wenger. “If I hadn’t gone to Arsenal, it would have been very difficult to have had the career I have had. They are the keys to success,” he added.
Fast forward to the present, Fàbregas enjoys his role as a coach. “My life is very different. I am a coach 24 hours a day, and I learn every day without stopping. It is the best thing that could have happened to me in this transition,” he said.
On that debut day, Arsenal took a lead after 11 minutes through Jeremie Aliadiere, but a 90th-minute equaliser from Darren Byfield sent the match into extra time.
The tie was decided through a penalty shoot-out, where Arsenal triumphed 9-8. Fàbregas went on to score in a 5-1 win over Wolves in the Fourth Round, further solidifying his position as a young talent to watch.
The emergence of Cesc Fàbregas stands as an illustrious chapter in Arsenal‘s history, underlining the club’s commitment to nurturing young talent.
His debut marked not only a personal milestone but also a reaffirmation of Arsenal‘s acumen in spotting and developing youthful prospects, a tradition that continues to bear fruit for the club.