The Chelsea star gives his top advice on how to travel in style
The city of Pamplona is significant for several reasons. It’s home to Miguel Indurain, the only man to win the Tour de France. It’s also the birthplace of Cordero al Chilindrón – a slow-cooked lamb and pepper-based stew that looks a bit like something you’d get for your school dinner on a bad day, but tastes delicious.
Perhaps most importantly, though, Pamplona is the hometown of César Azpilicueta, the man who has made more appearances for Chelsea Football Club than any other non-English player in history. Azpi started his career in Pamplona, playing for Osasuna. He made his debut in a 2–0 to Real Madrid. He was 17 years old and he’d have been playing against Raúl and Ruud Van Nistelrooy — what’s in Basque? Azpi went on a classic right-back’s journey in that he started as a forward and a midfielder, before being thrown in at right-back during an injury crisis, excelling, and making a magnificent career out of it.
Olympique Marseille came knocking pretty quickly, but Azpi’s French adventure only lasted for a couple of seasons before Chelsea took the plunge on him and, well, you know the rest. He’s still there, club captain, club legend, part of the furniture. He’s travelled Spain, France, England, and he’s been playing European football for twelve-and-a-half years, so who better to give us a few travel tips, than César Azpilicueta?
Getty ImagesTIP #1 Pick your travel companions carefully
After Chelsea beat Manchester City in Porto in 2021, Azpi travelled back to London with the trophy beside him on the plane. We asked him if it was filled with champagne, but Azpi won’t be drawn on such matters – ever the model professional. He says. And who knows? Maybe, come May, Azpi will get his wish.
AdvertisementGettyTIP #2 If you book a safari trip, don’t then immediately sign for Olympique Marseille.
Twelve years ago, Azpi booked a whole safari trip—the trip of a lifetime—and then Marseille got him to sign on the dotted line, and that safari trip disappeared in front of his very eyes, and Azpi hasn’t been on safari to this very day. Another way to look at this is that if your dream is to play in Ligue 1, maybe book a safari trip in the hope that it’s foiled by a football club from the south of France.
GettyTIP #3 Always take a spa session over beach football.
Azpi is still playing at the top level of professional football at the age of 33, which is no mean feat these days. Maybe part of that is down to him knowing how to take it easy. [over beach football], The thing is, you might remember Ben Chilwell told us he was a big fan of beach football, and we have photographic evidence of Azpi bicycle kicking a ball in a swimming pool, supposedly whipped into him by his wife or his daughter… we’re just saying—maybe the odd game of sandy five-a-side won’t destroy your burgeoning football career.
GettyTIP #4 Plan your trips according to the season.