Hazard Tells Fabregas It’s Time to Return to Stamford Bridge as Coach

 

Former Chelsea forward Eden Hazard has publicly urged his ex-teammate Cesc Fabregas to return to Stamford Bridge in a coaching capacity, describing the Spaniard as destined to become one of football’s top managers.

Hazard and Fabregas enjoyed a successful partnership at Chelsea between 2014 and 2019, during which they won five major trophies, including two Premier League titles under Jose Mourinho in 2014–15 and Antonio Conte in 2016–17. The duo also lifted the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the UEFA Europa League before Fabregas departed for AS Monaco in January 2019.

Read Also: Maresca Firmly Dismisses Manchester City Succession Rumors, Affirms Chelsea Commitment.

In an interview with Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport, Hazard revealed that he and Fabregas had discussed the former midfielder’s coaching career over the summer, with the Belgian expressing confidence that his friend would one day manage Chelsea.

“I’ll be honest. We talked a bit over the summer. I told him he was one of the best midfielders in history and that he’s destined to become one of the best coaches too. I explained that it was time for him to return to Chelsea, and he joked about it, but I really think so,” Hazard said.

“He loves football, he knows everything about the game. I’m a Chelsea fan and I want the best for the club: that’s why I dream of seeing Cesc on the bench, while I’m in the stands, behind him, enjoying the show.”

Fabregas, who retired from professional football in 2023 after a decorated 20-year playing career, is currently in his first full season as head coach of Italian Serie A side Como. The 37-year-old former Arsenal, Barcelona, and Chelsea midfielder took charge of the club in November 2023 while they were still competing in Serie B, Italy’s second tier. Under his management, Como secured promotion to Serie A at the end of the 2023–24 season, finishing second in the division.

Como’s return to the Italian top flight marked their first appearance in Serie A since the 2002–03 season, ending a 21-year absence. The club, owned by Indonesian tobacco billionaire Robert Budi Hartono and backed by former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Michael Essien as a club ambassador, has been enjoying a strong campaign under Fabregas. As of early February 2025, Como sit sixth in the Serie A table, a remarkable achievement for a newly promoted side competing against established giants such as Inter Milan, Juventus, and AC Milan.

Fabregas’s tactical acumen and knowledge of the game have drawn widespread praise in Italy, with several analysts noting his ability to organise a disciplined defensive structure while maintaining attacking fluidity. His success has inevitably led to speculation about future opportunities at bigger clubs, with Chelsea, where he spent five seasons as a player, frequently mentioned as a potential destination.

Chelsea, currently managed by Enzo Maresca, have undergone significant changes in recent years following the takeover by American businessman Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in 2022. The club has cycled through multiple managers since the departure of Thomas Tuchel in September 2022, including Graham Potter, who was sacked in April 2023, and Mauricio Pochettino, who left by mutual consent at the end of the 2023–24 season despite guiding the team to a sixth-place finish and European qualification.

Read Also: Chelsea’s Hampton crowned FIFA’s best as Nigeria’s Nnadozie earns top-four world ranking 

Maresca, appointed in the summer of 2024 after leading Leicester City to the Championship title, is currently in his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge. While results have been mixed, the club’s ownership has publicly backed the Italian coach, though uncertainty over long-term stability remains a feature of the post-Abramovich era.

Hazard’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among Chelsea supporters who have fond memories of the club’s success during the 2010s, a period in which both he and Fabregas were central figures. The Belgian winger is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Chelsea’s history, having scored 110 goals and provided 92 assists in 352 appearances across all competitions between 2012 and 2019. He was named Premier League Player of the Season twice, in 2014–15 and 2016–17, and was instrumental in Chelsea’s title triumphs under Mourinho and Conte.

Fabregas, meanwhile, made 198 appearances for Chelsea, registering 22 goals and 57 assists. Known for his vision, passing range, and ability to control the tempo of matches, the Spaniard was a key component of Chelsea’s midfield during their dominant spells under Mourinho and Conte. Before joining Chelsea in 2014, Fabregas had already established himself as one of Europe’s elite playmakers during his time at Arsenal, where he captained the club as a teenager, and Barcelona, where he won multiple domestic and European trophies, including the UEFA Champions League in 2011.

Reflecting on the highlights of his own career, Hazard described Belgium’s third-place finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia as one of his proudest achievements. Belgium, led by coach Roberto Martinez, defeated England 2–0 in the third-place playoff in Saint Petersburg, with Hazard playing a starring role throughout the tournament. The Belgian national team, often referred to as the “Golden Generation” due to the presence of world-class talents such as Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, and Hazard himself, had long been tipped for major tournament success but had previously failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals.

“Third place at the 2018 World Cup with Belgium was a success, I was in top form. Ours is a small nation, which treated that result as something amazing,” Hazard said.

He also recalled special memories from his club career, including his first competitive match against Chelsea and his time at Real Madrid, where he struggled with injuries and form after a high-profile transfer in 2019.

“I also cherish my first match against Chelsea, as well as everything I experienced with Real Madrid. I was unlucky in Spain, but playing at the Bernabeu was my dream since I was a child,” he added.

Hazard’s move to Real Madrid in June 2019 was one of the most anticipated transfers in European football, with the Spanish giants paying an initial fee of €100 million, potentially rising to €146 million with add-ons, to secure his services. However, his time at the Santiago Bernabeu was marred by persistent injuries, including multiple ankle problems and muscle issues, which limited him to just 76 appearances over four seasons. He scored only seven goals for Real Madrid and was largely a peripheral figure during the club’s successful 2021–22 campaign, in which they won both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.

Hazard announced his retirement from professional football in October 2023 at the age of 32, bringing an end to a career that saw him win 13 major trophies across spells with Lille, Chelsea, and Real Madrid, in addition to earning 126 caps for Belgium.