Cesar Azpilicueta spent the morning of the 2021 Champions League final studying. He was not resting. Hours later, he lifted the trophy in Porto. Chelsea had beaten Manchester City 1-0. That routine sums up his nine years at Stamford Bridge. It also explains why the Cesar Azpilicueta Champions League story has resurfaced this week. The former captain has now graduated from the PFA Business School.
Azpilicueta retired from playing at the end of last season. He closed out a career built on leadership as much as consistency. He captained Chelsea through some of the biggest nights in the club’s history. Porto remains the clearest example of how calm he stayed in a European final.
Harvard MBA and the PFA Business School Cohort
While still playing for Chelsea, Azpilicueta completed an MBA at Harvard University. He fitted his studies around training, matches and captaincy duties. He was also part of the 2026 PFA Business School graduation cohort. The ceremony took place at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. It brought players from across English football together.
Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall graduated in the same group. He completed a postgraduate diploma in global football sport directorship. Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi also featured, after joining Coventry from Nottingham Forest over the summer. Awoniyi now holds three academic qualifications, including a degree in business management.
“I’ve got a degree in business management and another diploma, so this is my third qualification”
Dewsbury-Hall explained why he chose to keep studying while still an active professional.
“I hope I’ve got a long time left in football. But as a person, I’m always trying to learn and develop away from the pitch. I don’t want to stop playing and then just sit around doing nothing. This was something that genuinely interested me. Whether I use it in the future, we’ll see, but it’s always good to do it now rather than wait until you’ve finished playing. If the time ever comes when an opportunity presents itself, luckily I’ve got something that can help me.”
Statistical Proof and Expert Dissection on Player Development
There isn’t a formal study proving that an MBA makes a better footballer. But the pattern among this graduating class points somewhere useful. Azpilicueta, Dewsbury-Hall and Awoniyi all built academic work around first-team commitments instead of waiting for retirement. They treated education as part of their preparation, not a fallback plan.
Awoniyi described how the demands of a playing career actually leave room for it.
“It’s not like a 9-5 job in football. We go in and sometimes finish quite early. Although it’s challenging, I think every footballer has time in the evening for something like this business school.
Of course, it demands a lot from you. It’s all about how willing you are to do it. I tell people there are a lot of things that are bigger than football. Yes, football is our passion, but we are normal human beings too. Maybe that’s something the world doesn’t always see.”
The BBC Sport report on PFA Business School graduates captured a group of players who treat study as something that sharpens focus. For them, it is not a distraction from the game. That mindset traces back to the Cesar Azpilicueta Champions League final in Porto, when studying came before trophy lifting.
“It’s not only about preparing for life after football. It’s about becoming a better version of yourself in your football career as well”
Future Implications for Modern Footballers at Stamford Bridge
Azpilicueta’s example comes at an interesting time for Chelsea. Xabi Alonso now leads a squad packed with young players who could have careers lasting well beyond a decade. His belief that education can sharpen performance rather than distract from it fits that modern environment.
It also complements the recognition Chelsea’s current squad is receiving on the pitch. Joao Pedro’s recent award nomination is one example. Azpilicueta’s story adds another dimension to what supporters can expect from players wearing the shirt. His example shows that leadership extends beyond matchday.
Chelsea has a long history of producing greatest Chelsea leaders and forwards. Azpilicueta now belongs in that conversation. Not only because of what he won, but also because of the preparation behind those achievements.
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