10 Interesting Career Facts About Marc Cucurella
- Think Football Ideas
- Jul 26, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 15
Full Name: Marc Cucurella Saseta
Date of Birth: 22 July 1998
Place of Birth: Alella, Spain
Height: 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s): Left-back, Left Wing-Back
Current Club: Real Madrid
Major Honours: UEFA European Championship, UEFA Nations League, FIFA Club World Cup, FIFA World Cup
Marc Cucurella Saseta, born on July 22, 1998, in Alella, Barcelona, Catalonia, has become one of Spain's finest modern full-backs. Following impressive spells at Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea, the UEFA Euro 2024 winner completed a high-profile move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2026, adding another major chapter to an already remarkable career.
Known for his versatility as a left-back or left wing-back, Cucurella's journey from youth football to the Premier League and international stage is filled with notable milestones and achievements. Here, we explore some of the most interesting career facts about this talented Spanish footballer.
Below Are 10 Interesting Career Facts About Marc Cucurella
1. A Serendipitous Start: From Car Dealership to Espanyol
Marc Cucurella’s journey into football wasn’t planned with spreadsheets or scouts, it started in the most unexpected of places: a car dealership. His father, Óscar, a car salesman with a deep love for the game, unknowingly set things in motion.
One day, while chatting with a customer, the conversation drifted to football and to Marc, his eldest son, who was always kicking a ball around. “Let me tell you a strange story about how I became a footballer,” Cucurella begins as he told Chelsea's official site.
“This man, whose name I cannot remember, told my dad to bring me to some academy trials. ‘Where?’ my dad says. ‘Espanyol’s academy,’ the man replies.”
It was a chance meeting, and a life-changing one. Marc went on to spend the next few weeks training with Espanyol’s youth setup. The coaches saw potential in him, and the journey through the academy system began.
2. Futsal, Discipline & La Masia Dreams
Before Espanyol, there was futsal, and fear. The Alella-born lad, Cucurella, got his first taste of competition playing against older, stronger boys, but he didn’t shy away.
“I remember being so scared! They were bigger, taller, stronger… but I just ran like a crazy kid. I think they were like, who on earth is this little boy with the curly hair?”
His father’s tough love helped shape him. Oscar had high standards, never accepting anything less than Marc’s best. “If I failed one pass, or had one bad action, he would see it as a disaster, a catastrophe. But maybe this was important? Maybe I needed that one person to push me.”
That push eventually led to the biggest step of all, joining Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy in 2012. It was there that Cucurella transitioned from a streetwise, energetic kid to a refined young player with a professional future in sight.
3. Rise Through Barcelona's Ranks
Cucurella made his senior debut with Barcelona B on November 26, 2016, in a 4-0 home win over L'Hospitalet in the Segunda División B. His performances were impressive, contributing to the team's promotion to the Segunda División.
Despite being primarily part of the reserve team, Cucurella made his first-team debut on October 24, 2017, coming on as a late substitute in a 3-0 Copa del Rey victory against Real Murcia.
4. Loan to Eibar and Breakthrough Season
In 2018, Marc Cucurella left Barcelona on loan to Eibar, a move that, on the surface, seemed unremarkable. But it was anything but.
“Moving teams on deadline day is… stressful! I told my agent, Eibar? That’s like a six-hour drive away! I went with my wife, and it was our first time away from family, and I couldn’t get a game at first. Three of my first four games, I was on the bench.”
Yet he never lost enthusiasm. Training became a proving ground, and before long, Cucurella was starting every week. “Suddenly, I was starting every single game!”
That energy translated to the pitch. He made his La Liga debut in September against Espanyol and ended the season in style as he scored against his parent club, Barcelona, on the final day. Eibar were impressed, signing him permanently… but Barcelona had second thoughts, quickly triggering his buy-back clause before sending him to Getafe.
5. Permanent Move to Getafe and European Debut
Cucurella joined Getafe on loan in July 2019, with an option to make the deal permanent. He made his European debut on September 19, 2019, in a 1-0 home win against Trabzonspor in the UEFA Europa League.
His performances were instrumental in Getafe's solid campaign, and the club activated their option to buy him outright in March 2020.
6. Brighton & Hove Albion and Premier League Success
Cucurella's consistent performances in La Liga caught the attention of Premier League clubs, and on August 31, 2021, he signed a five-year contract with Brighton & Hove Albion.
He made his debut for Brighton on September 11, 2021, in a 1-0 win over Brentford. Cucurella quickly adapted to the Premier League, showcasing his defensive solidity and attacking prowess.
He scored his first goal for the club on May 7, 2022, in a 4-0 victory over Manchester United. His outstanding performances throughout the season earned him both the Players' Player of the Season and Player of the Season awards at Brighton.
7. Record Transfer to Chelsea
Cucurella's success at Brighton paved the way for a big move, and on August 5, 2022, he signed for Chelsea on a six-year contract.
The transfer fee was reported to be an initial £55 million, potentially rising to £62 million with add-ons, making it a record fee received by Brighton. He made his debut for Chelsea the following day in a 1-0 win against Everton.
Cucurella continued to impress, earning the Player of the Match award in a Champions League round-of-16 second-leg match against Borussia Dortmund on March 7, 2023. He also scored his first goal for Chelsea in an FA Cup quarter-final match against Leicester City on March 17, 2024.
“Whenever we had days off at Brighton, we would drive into London. And every single time, the road home was via Fulham Road. We would pass Stamford Bridge, and I noticed how the stadium is in the middle of the city.
The area is beautiful, the buildings huge. I would always say to myself, imagine playing here. Now I call it home, and it’s surreal.”
8. Dream Move to Real Madrid
After establishing himself as an important player for Chelsea and Spain, Marc Cucurella reached another major milestone in 2026 when he completed a move to Real Madrid.
The transfer came shortly before Spain began their FIFA World Cup campaign, meaning Cucurella arrived at the tournament as a Real Madrid player.
For a footballer who began at Espanyol before developing at Barcelona's La Masia and eventually making his name in England, the move represented another significant step in his career. It also brought Cucurella back to Spain at a time when his reputation had never been higher.
His performances for Chelsea and the national team had established him as a reliable and energetic left-back, while his ability to contribute in possession and attack made him an important option on the flank.
Joining Real Madrid allowed Cucurella to compete at one of the biggest clubs in world football and add another major chapter to his career.
9. Euro 2024, Spain and World Cup Glory
Cucurella's breakthrough on the international stage came at UEFA Euro 2024, where he played an important role in Spain's successful campaign.
The left-back featured throughout the tournament and provided the assist for Mikel Oyarzabal's winning goal in the final against England as Spain lifted the European Championship for a record fourth time.
His performances helped establish him as an important part of Spain's national team and demonstrated that he could perform at the highest level. Two years later, Cucurella returned to a major tournament as a Real Madrid player when Spain competed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Spain went on to win the World Cup, giving Cucurella another major international honour and adding the biggest prize in international football to his collection.
From the youngster who came through Barcelona's academy to a Real Madrid player and World Cup winner, Cucurella had completed another exceptional stage of his football journey.
10. A Career That Continues to Rise
Cucurella's career has followed a path that is anything but straightforward. He began at Espanyol, developed at Barcelona, gained first-team experience with Eibar and Getafe, and eventually established himself in the Premier League with Brighton and Chelsea.
His career then reached another level with his move to Real Madrid and his success with Spain. Along the way, Cucurella has collected major honours including the UEFA European Championship, UEFA Nations League, FIFA Club World Cup and FIFA World Cup.
What makes his story particularly interesting is the number of stages he had to pass through before reaching the top. His journey was not simply a straight route from a major academy to one of Europe's biggest clubs. Each move gave him another opportunity to develop, adapt and prove himself.
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