Azpilicueta served Chelsea with distinction between 2012 and 2023, and in his penultimate season at the club, became the first player in our history to win every major trophy possible

The last piece of silverware required was what was then known as the Club World Cup, and has since been rebranded as the Intercontinental Cup following the expansion of the tournament we won this summer.

In February 2022, we beat Al Hilal in the semi-final, setting up a showdown with Brazilian side Palmeiras. It was there, in the heat of Abu Dhabi, that our skipper's ingenuity helped ensure we returned home with a new piece of silverware in tow.

It looked like the final was heading to penalties, but a shot from the Spaniard was blocked by a hand. VAR came into play, not for the first time at the Mohammed Zayed Stadium, and a spot-kick was awarded to the Blues.

Azpilicueta immediately gathered the ball, and it very much looked like he was going to take the penalty in the absence of Jorginho, our regular taker.

‘It was a tactic because I knew how they are, I knew they were coming for the penalty taker, so I took the ball,’ said Azpilicueta, clearly a step ahead of everyone else in the stadium.

‘Kai [Havertz] knew that he was going to shoot, so it was to release the pressure from him. It was a decisive moment, and Kai is one of the best penalty takers.

‘I waited and listened to everything their players told me, and I think it worked, which is the most important thing.’

How it worked! Havertz coolly converted from 12 yards, and we saw out the closing stages with the minimum of fuss to secure our second trophy of that campaign, and the ninth of Azpilicueta's Blues career.

For our dependable Spaniard, it marked a completion of the set, and redemption for defeat to Corinthians nearly a decade prior.

‘I’m really proud of it,’ the skipper beamed after the game.

‘We have come a long way to be here. It’s a moment to be proud and enjoy it because we know how difficult it is to win this trophy. 2012 hurt a lot and we took more than nine years to be back. We missed out in 2012 and we didn’t want to miss the cup again.

‘This time the medal is gold, and the other one is silver. I made sure I wasn’t coming back with the same colour of medal. It was a difficult game. World champions, it’s not easy. We showed the team we are.

‘When I arrived in 2012, I couldn’t imagine the journey I would go on,’ added Azpi.

‘I’m really proud to be the Chelsea captain leading the club on and off the pitch. This title feels very good because it’s the first time in our history. I’m so proud we achieved it.’

After joining Chelsea from Marseille in the summer of 2012 as a full-back little known on these shores, Azpilicueta went on to win the Premier League twice, the Champions League, the Europa League twice, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Super Cup and, after two hours of tense football in the UAE, the Club World Cup.

No Chelsea player can lay claim to such a varied honours' board. His place in the pantheon of Blues greats is secured.

Happy birthday, Azpi!