Quick Facts
Biography
Júlio César Santos Correa (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʒulju ˈsɛzɐʁ]; born 18 November 1978), known as Júlio César, is a retired Brazilian footballer who played mainly as a central defender.
During a professional career that spanned two decades, he played for 16 clubs in 12 different countries, but never in his own. In the Spanish La Liga, he amassed La Liga totals of 125 games and six goals during six seasons, winning one Champions League with Real Madrid.
Football career
Early years
Júlio César was born São Luís, Maranhão. He finished his formation in Mexico with Club América, making his professional debuts in Honduras with C.D. Marathón.
At the age of only 17, Júlio César signed with Spanish club Real Valladolid. He immediately began playing regularly (25 La Liga matches in his first season, helping his team rank seventh and qualify for the UEFA Cup), soon attracting interest from bigger clubs.
Real Madrid
In the 1999 summer, Júlio César was bought by Real Madrid, appearing regularly in his first year with a team which also included established stoppers Iván Helguera, Fernando Hierro and Aitor Karanka, as well as Iván Campo. He helped the capital side to the campaign's UEFA Champions League, although he did not make the list of 18 for the final itself.
Initially loaned to A.C. Milan in October 2000, Júlio César quickly left the Italians unsettled, after which he returned to Spain with Real Sociedad, also on loan. The following summer, he joined S.L. Benfica in the same predicament.
Bolton
After a one-year spell (already as a free agent) with FK Austria Wien, Júlio César returned to Valladolid in 2003, again being a starter but seeing the Castile and León side be relegated to Segunda División. He then moved to England and its Premier League, after signing with Bolton Wanderers.
Júlio César's debut came on 14 August 2004, in a 4–1 home victory over Charlton Athletic. However, after the next game, a 0–2 away defeat to Fulham, he found himself dropped from the starting line-up in favour of Tunisian international Radhi Jaïdi; additionally, he also sustained a broken foot against Manchester United at Old Trafford, on Boxing Day, which would be his last appearance of the season.
Júlio César's transfer was one of those about which the Stevens enquiry report in June 2007 expressed concerns, because of the apparent conflict of interest between agent Craig Allardyce, his father Sam Allardyce – the Trotters' manager – and the club itself.
Professional journeyman
Júlio César joined Tigres UANL in 2005, and quickly became a key in the Mexican team's defense in both the Liga MX and the Copa Libertadores. Notably, he participated with one goal in the match dubbed "Aztecazo", a 4–1 turn-around win against Club América after a 1–3 home loss for the 2005 Apertura.
In July 2006, Júlio César moved to Olympiacos FC. He scored five goals in 27 matches in his first year, being essential to the conquest of the Superleague Greece championship. On 31 October 2006, he helped to a 1–1 away draw against A.S. Roma for Champions League group stage, but his team eventually ranked last.
In the following years, Júlio César represented FC Dinamo Bucureşti (Romania) and Gaziantepspor (Turkey). Before agreeing to a one-and-a-half-year deal with the latter, he spoke with countryman and former Real Madrid teammate Roberto Carlos, then at Fenerbahçe SK, asking him for information about the Süper Lig.
Sporting Kansas City
On 14 March 2011, after only a few weeks in Portugal with C.S. Marítimo, 32-year-old Júlio César signed for Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City. The terms of the contract were unknown, but general manager Peter Vermes stated that the seasoned veteran would be "a very nice addition to the back line this season".
César was released by Kansas City on 19 November 2012.
Toronto FC
On 14 January 2013, Júlio César joined Toronto FC. He was released only two months later, without having made one single appearance; during his spell in North America, he was deployed mainly as a defensive midfielder.
Honours
- Real Madrid
- UEFA Champions League: 1999–2000
- Austria Wien
- Austrian Football Bundesliga: 2002–03
- Austrian Cup: 2002–03
- Tigres
- InterLiga: 2006
- Olympiacos
- Superleague Greece: 2006–07, 2007–08
- Greek Football Cup: 2007–08
- Greek Super Cup: 2007
- Sporting Kansas City
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: 2012