From an overlooked youth player
"Do you want to play football or party with your friends?" Oscar, Marc Cucurella's father, asked his son after a late night out. Cucurella responded that he chose football.
The 27-year-old Spain defender grew up in Alella, a coastal town about 20 km from Barcelona. His opportunity in professional football emerged from a conversation. While working at a car dealership, Oscar told a customer about his 8-year-old son's passion for football. The customer advised him to take his son for a trial at Espanyol's academy.
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Cucurella's flowing hair. Photo: Tycsports |
Cucurella's flowing hair. Photo: Tycsports
After playing for Espanyol, Cucurella joined Barcelona's La Masia academy in 2012. Youth team coach Franc Artiga noted that Cucurella always had the team's trust, even if he did not start regularly. Aleix Pique, who played alongside Cucurella from the age of 12, observed that the player was not technically outstanding but possessed a team-oriented playstyle and consistently supported his teammates.
In 10/2017, Cucurella debuted for Barcelona's first team in a Copa del Rey match against Murcia. This was his only appearance for the first team. Under coach Ernesto Valverde, he was not favored and moved to Eibar on loan.
Eibar purchased Cucurella permanently before Barcelona activated his buy-back clause in 2019, subsequently loaning him to Getafe. There, his good form led to his call-up to the Spain U21 squad and attracted the interest of many clubs.
In 8/2021, Brighton signed Cucurella. A year later, Chelsea acquired the defender for 65 million EUR. After 163 matches for Chelsea, contributing 9 goals and 13 assists, Cucurella was signed by Real Madrid and will join the team after the World Cup concludes.
Cucurella debuted for the Spain national team in a friendly against Lithuania in 6/2021. By 2024, under coach Luis de la Fuente, he became the first-choice left-back. The 27-year-old defender won Euro 2024 with Spain and will face Argentina in the World Cup final. He also promised to get a tattoo if Spain wins the championship.
His flowing hair
The defender born in 1998 spends 30-45 minutes daily caring for his curly hair. This characteristic dates back to his youth playing days, when his mother, Patricia, let him grow his hair long to make him easily identifiable on the pitch.
His distinctive hair has also often been the subject of jokes among teammates. Lamine Yamal once quipped that Cucurella should cut his hair to run faster. His wife, Claudia Rodriguez, a social media content creator, also mentioned that living with her husband's thick curly hair is sometimes "a struggle".
Cucurella's hair also drew attention during a Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham, when center-back Cristian "Cuti" Romero pulled his hair during a challenge. The incident went unpunished by the referee and later sparked much controversy.
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Cucurella with Spain, winning Euro 2024 in Germany. Photo: Reuters |
Cucurella with Spain, winning Euro 2024 in Germany. Photo: Reuters
Journey with his son
Like his football career, Marc Cucurella's family life has not always been smooth. The Cucurella family has three children: Mateo, Rio, and Bella. Their eldest son, Mateo, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
In a conversation with Pau Brunet, a 13-year-old teenager with autism, Cucurella stated: "No one teaches you how to be a parent. Having an autistic child means you have to learn to understand them."
Cucurella noted that his and his wife's top priority when moving clubs is finding suitable schools and support therapies for Mateo. Their other two children are also guided to support their older brother in daily activities.
At the upcoming World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Mateo will be in the VIP stands. This marks the first time the family will bring the 6-year-old boy to watch his father play live. Previously, Mateo usually stayed home playing on a tablet, as the family prioritized his health and well-being. Cucurella aims to win the World Cup with Spain before his 28th birthday next week.
