Euro 2008 Player Profile: Cesc Fàbregas

Name: Francesc “Cesc” Fàbregas Soler
Nickname: Syler (but maybe that’s only me)
Team: Spain
Group: D; Greece, Russia, Sweden.
Caps (Goals): 25 (0) - as of June 3, 2008
DOB: May 4, 1987 (21 years old)
Position: Playmaker / Central midfielder
Club Team: Arsenal

In the beginning of this Premiership season, before Cristiano Ronaldo’s form exploded into the stratosphere, there was one player no fantasy team could be without, and that was Cesc Fabregas.

His passing and even scoring was absolutely vital to Arsenal’s strong start, and at 20 years old, he was being billed by many as the best player in the Premiership, possibly the world. That other midfielder has since taken over the mantle of best player, but Cesc continues to be one of the most valued and sought-after talents in Europe.

Fàbregas came up in the Barcelona youth system, where he was trained as a defensive midfielder, but his eye for goal was always keen. In 2003, realizing it would take years to get onto the first team at Barca, he came to Arsenal, and at only 16 years old, became their youngest ever first team player. To be the youngest player in any club’s history is important, but Arsenal is known for their youth, so there it takes on special significance. He also soon became the youngest scorer in Gunners history.

Since then, Fàbregas has wasted no time in becoming one of the most important weapons at Arsenal. Though he missed out on league play during the Gunners’ legendary 2004 undefeated season, he took the pitch in 2005 with increased duties, and started in Arsenal’s FA Cup final win over Manchester United that year. Since then, there have been no club trophies, despite trips to the final of the Champions League and league cup. But Cesc has only matured and deepened his game, and now at the ripe old age of 21, is a true force on both the club and international stages.

Like Torres, Casillas and the rest of the Spanish side, Fàbregas carries with him into these Euros the weight of Spain’s past tournament failures. Adding to the burden on those young shoulders is the collapse of Arsenal this season, falling from first to third after the disastrous loss of Eduardo to that infamous leg break. If Spain can finally do the business this year, there will be a ton of great individual stories, and Cesc’s will be one of the best. There is no Raul in this tournament, and so we will miss the story of the experienced captain leading out his troops for one last stand, and finally achieving victory. Instead, Cesc is the young lieutenant, brilliant and with boundless potential, but still unproven at the highest level.

Of course, if things don’t work out for him on the football pitch, Cesc has managed to diversify more than almost any other non-Beckham footballer. Here are two clips of his many talents. The first highlights not only his great skill but his graduation out of the worst-hair-on-Earth club. And who doesn’t need to be reminded of the horror that was “Mambo #5″?

And in this clip, we get a little look at the Cesc Fàbregas Show in action. Spain fans will have to hope that no one in the Greek or Russian midfield is watching, or else Cesc’s vulnerability to the Cow Maneuver will surely be his downfall.

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