Jakarta. Arsenal legend Cesc Fabregas has been officially appointed as the head coach of Serie A newcomers Como 1907. Fabregas, who served as an assistant coach and interim head coach last season, has signed a four-year contract.

"It’s an honor for us to officially appoint Cesc as head coach. The impact of his knowledge, experience, and passion is already evident in the success of last season and the evolution of our playing style. We believe that this is just the start though and look forward to continuing working with Cesc this season and for many years to come," Mirwan Suwarso, the official representative of the ownership group, said on Saturday.

The former Arsenal, Barcelona, and Chelsea midfielder retired as a player at Como in 2023. Fabregas initially stepped in as head coach of Como 1907 in November 2023 following the dismissal of Moreno Longo. However, due to insufficient coaching licenses, he served only a month as head coach before transitioning to an assistant role. Osian Roberts was then appointed as head coach.

Under Roberts’ guidance, the club, owned by Indonesia’s richest individuals, the Hartono brothers, achieved automatic promotion by finishing second in Serie B for the 2023/24 season. Roberts will now take on the role of head of development at Como.

Fabregas expressed his excitement about the official start of his coaching career. "I am so happy to be starting this season as head coach and I thank the ownership group for trusting me with this position. I share the ambitions of the group and believe this is just the start of where this club can go. It’s going to be a tough and important season but myself and the rest of the coaching staff are ready and we all believe."

In preparation for their Serie A campaign, Como has bolstered their squad with several high-profile signings. The club has announced the arrivals of former Liverpool defender Alberto Moreno, ex-Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina, and former AS Roma forward Andrea Belotti. Additionally, reports suggest that French defender Raphael Varane is set to join the club after not renewing his contract with Manchester United.

Como 1907 is eager to establish themselves in Serie A and these new signings, along with Fabregas' leadership, signal their ambitious plans for the upcoming season.