Cesc Fabregas has opened up about the profound influence of the legendary managers he played under, revealing that Antonio Conte was a "big shock" while Arsene Wenger still sends him messages to this day. Now just 39 years old and already making waves as the head coach of Como in Serie B, Fabregas hung up his boots in 2023 and transitioned straight into management, bringing a wealth of experience from two decades at the highest level.
In an exclusive interview, the Spanish midfield maestro credited a host of coaching greats—including Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, and especially Arsene Wenger—for shaping his philosophy. But it was Conte's intense approach that truly caught him off guard. "Conte was a big shock," Fabregas admitted, reflecting on the tactical discipline and fiery passion that defined the Italian's tenure.
When it comes to his own coaching style, Fabregas is unapologetically in the "giochisti" camp—the believers in beautiful, possession-based football. In Italian football, the eternal debate between giochisti (those who prioritize style) and risultatisti (those who chase results at all costs) rages on, and Fabregas has made his stance crystal clear. "I coach the way that I feel. I love the game. If I coach only to get results, I will not do it," he told Telegraph Sport. "I could not coach long ball, second ball. Why? Because you need to believe in what you do. You can win in any way, as long as you convince the players that this is the right way. But if you want to play long ball, I'm sorry, I'm not your guy—because I don't feel it, and I won't be able to transmit the fire."
That fire has been burning since his days as a teenage prodigy at Arsenal, where he started a little black book that would become his coaching bible. "I started the book when I was 22 or 23, before going to Barcelona," Fabregas revealed. Over the years, he filled it with observations, tactical notes, and lessons learned from every coach he encountered—including the mistakes he vowed never to repeat. Now, as he guides Como through the challenges of Serie B, Fabregas is blending those insights with his own unshakeable beliefs, determined to build a team that plays the game the right way.
For fans of the beautiful game, Fabregas's journey from midfield maestro to managerial mastermind is a story worth following—and a reminder that the greatest players often carry the game's soul into their next chapter.