Where Fabregas’ old Arsenal team-mates are now from ace playing in Djibouti to backpack seller as Cesc becomes manager

5 months ago 41

CESC FABREGAS has started his first managerial job at Como – and it turns out many of his ex-Arsenal team-mates are also working as coaches.

In fact, just two players who featured alongside Fabregas in his last Arsenal game are still playing – Wojciech Szczęsny and Alex Song.

Cesc Fabregas has taken interim charge of Como[/caption]

Fabregas with his Arsenal team-mates in 2011[/caption]

Fabregas, 36, appointed himself as interim boss of Como, having ended his playing career at the club earlier this year.

The Spaniard took over as manager of the Under-19s in the summer but has now replaced Moreno Longo as first-team boss while the club searches for a permanent successor.

Fabregas played his last Arsenal game in 2011 before a dream move to his boyhood club Barcelona.

The Gunners ended that season fourth in the Premier League under Arsene Wenger, with some other notable names featuring in Fabregas’ final game, which came against Bolton on 24 April 2011.

Here, SunSport takes a look at where the rest of the Arsenal stars who played that day are now.

Wojciech Szczęsny

The goalkeeper, 33, joined Juventus in 2017 and has since made 227 appearances for the Serie A giants.

He battled Gianluigi Buffon for the No1 spot when he first arrived but he has made the position his since the Italian legend left in 2021.

Wojciech Szczesny still plays for Juventus after leaving Arsenal to join the Italian side in 2017[/caption]

Bacary Sagna

The former right-back is a partner in French company Gravipack, which sells £200 backpacks.

Sagna, 40, has pumped £220,000 into the business and he is now living in Dubai where he also helps to run a lifestyle app.

Bacary Sagna owns a backpack company and lives in Dubai[/caption]

Laurent Koscielny

The Frenchman has returned to Lorient where he is an under-17 coach.

Arsenal signed the 38-year-old from the Ligue 1 side in 2010 and he played 353 times for the Gunners, and was appointed captain of the club in 2018.

Left under a cloud when he signed for Bordeaux after the club failed to convince him to stay.

Johan Djourou

Djorou, 36, is a fitness fanatic who can often be seen showing off his ripped physique in between running Djourou Elite – an academy that helps nurture young talent between the ages of 9-16.

The former centre-back also has ambitions of becoming an actor although he is happy to put his dreams on hold as he is passionate about helping kids progress as footballers.

Johan Djorou is now a fitness fanatic and likes to show off his physique[/caption]

Gael Clichy

Clichy only retired earlier this year following a spell at Servette but it did not take long for him to get back into the game.

The 38-year-old was invited to become France Under-21 assistant boss by his former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry, who was appointed manager in August.

Gael Clichy is assistant coach to Thierry Henry at France Under-21s[/caption]

Alex Song

The midfielder, 36, plays for Djiboutian club Arta/Solar7 having joined the club in 2020.

He joined Barcelona after leaving the Emirates but returned to the Premier League with West Ham in 2014.

Alex Song joined Barcelona after leaving North London and he now plays for Arta/Solar 7 in Djibouti[/caption]

Jack Wilshere

The Gunners academy graduate, 31, was forced into an early retirement by injury following spells with West Ham and Bournemouth.

He returned to Arsenal last year as Under-18 manager and led his side to the FA Youth Cup final, where they lost to the Hammers.

Jack Wilshere is Arsenal Under-21s boss[/caption]

Samir Nasri

Nasri retired two years ago but has not followed the path of his ex-team-mates by becoming a coach.

The 36-year-old has played in various charity matches, including for Marseille legends in 2021 alongside Didier Drogba.

He returned to the Emirates earlier this season but was attacked by a fan.

Samir Nasri retired in 2021[/caption]

Theo Walcott

The former England star decided to hang up his boots after leaving Southampton in the summer.

He thanked Wenger in a farewell speech and shared his love for the Gunners.

Walcott, 34, is keen to sink his teeth into punditry and has appeared on Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage on multiple occasions this season.

Theo Walcott works as a pundit for Sky Sports[/caption]

Robin van Persie

The Dutchman, 40, is now back in his native Netherlands where he is the assistant coach of Feyenoord.

Erik ten Hag reportedly wanted Van Persie to join him at Manchester United but he was rejected by the former striker who revealed he wanted “stability”.