Júlio César (footballer, born November 1978)

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Júlio César

|image = Julio Cesar Santos Correa.jpg

|upright = 0.7

|caption = César with Olympiacos in 2008

|fullname = Júlio César Santos Correa

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|11|18|df=yes}}

|birth_place = São Luís, Brazil

|height = 1.85 m

|position = Centre back

|currentclub =

|youthyears1 = 1995 | youthclubs1 = Club América

|years1 = 1995–1996 | clubs1 = Marathón | caps1 = 17 | goals1 = 0

|years2 = 1996–1999 | clubs2 = Valladolid | caps2 = 60 | goals2 = 4

|years3 = 1999–2002 | clubs3 = Real Madrid | caps3 = 21 | goals3 = 0

|years4 = 2000 | clubs4 = → Milan (loan) | caps4 = 4 | goals4 = 0

|years5 = 2000–2001 | clubs5 = → Real Sociedad (loan) | caps5 = 16 | goals5 = 1

|years6 = 2001–2002 | clubs6 = → Benfica (loan) | caps6 = 20 | goals6 = 3

|years7 = 2002–2003 | clubs7 = Austria Wien | caps7 = 9 | goals7 = 1

|years8 = 2003–2004 | clubs8 = Valladolid | caps8 = 28 | goals8 = 1

|years9 = 2004–2005 | clubs9 = Bolton Wanderers | caps9 = 5 | goals9 = 0

|years10 = 2005–2006 | clubs10 = Tigres | caps10 = 33 | goals10 = 6

|years11 = 2006–2008 | clubs11 = Olympiacos | caps11 = 45 | goals11 = 9

|years12 = 2008 | clubs12 = Dinamo București | caps12 = 10 | goals12 = 0

|years13 = 2009–2010 | clubs13 = Gaziantepspor | caps13 = 29 | goals13 = 1

|years14 = 2010 | clubs14 = Marítimo | caps14 = 0 | goals14 = 0

|years15 = 2011–2012 | clubs15 = Sporting Kansas City | caps15 = 58 | goals15 = 3

|years16 = 2013 | clubs16 = Toronto FC | caps16 = 0 | goals16 = 0

|years17 = 2014 | clubs17 = Parrillas One | caps17 = 7 | goals17 = 0

|totalcaps = 362 | totalgoals = 28

|manageryears1 = 2019 | managerclubs1 = Cristo Atlético

|manageryears2 = 2019 | managerclubs2 = Olimpik Donetsk

|manageryears3 = 2023 | managerclubs3 = Real Apodaca (Interim)

}}

Júlio César Santos Correa ({{IPA|pt|ˈʒulju ˈsɛzɐʁ}}; born 18 November 1978), known as Júlio César, is a Brazilian retired professional footballer who played mainly as a central defender, and a manager.

During a professional career that spanned two decades, he played for 16 clubs in 12 countries, but never in Brazil. In the Spanish La Liga, he amassed totals of 125 matches and six goals over six seasons, winning the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2000.

Playing career

=Early years=

Júlio César was born São Luís, Maranhão. He played youth football in Mexico with Club América, and made his professional debut in Honduras with C.D. Marathón.{{cite news|url=http://www.diez.hn/internacionales/787846-99/el-jugador-que-debut%C3%B3-en-marath%C3%B3n-y-jug%C3%B3-en-real-madrid|title=El jugador que debutó en Marathón y jugó en Real Madrid|trans-title=The player that made debut in Marathón and played in Real Madrid|newspaper=Diez|language=es|date=22 January 2015|access-date=3 February 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.futbolconpropiedad.com/2011/08/julio-cesar-santos-correa.html|title=Jugadores olvidados (XI): Júlio César Santos Correa|trans-title=Forgotten players (XI): Júlio César Santos Correa|publisher=Fútbol Con Propriedad|language=es|access-date=3 February 2016}}

Aged 17, Júlio César signed with Spanish side Real Valladolid. He immediately began playing regularly (25 La Liga matches in his first season, helping his team finish seventh and qualify for the UEFA Cup),{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1997/06/16/pagina-38/378104/pdf.html|title=Vuelve el 'Europucela'|trans-title='Europucela' is back|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Arturo|last=Alvarado|language=es|date=16 June 1997|access-date=3 February 2016}} and attracting interest from bigger clubs.

=Real Madrid=

Júlio César was bought by Real Madrid in the summer of 1999, appearing regularly in his first year for a team which also included established stoppers Iván Helguera, Fernando Hierro and Aitor Karanka, as well as Iván Campo.{{cite news|url=http://elpais.com/diario/1999/11/09/deportes/942102011_850215.html|title=El Arsenal se recrea en unos centrales de feria|trans-title=Arsenal have fun with carnival stoppers|newspaper=El País|first=José|last=Miguelez|language=es|date=9 November 1999|access-date=3 February 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://elpais.com/diario/2000/05/09/deportes/957823220_850215.html|title=Julio César, el sustituto de Karanka, dice que no está bien|trans-title=Julio César, Karanka's replacement, says he is not well|newspaper=El País|first=Diego|last=Torres|language=es|date=9 May 2000|access-date=3 February 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2012/07/14/futbol/equipos/real_madrid/1342299909.html|title=Fichajes de paso|trans-title=Fleeting signings|newspaper=Marca|first1=Luis|last1=Díaz|first2=Jorge|last2=Sanz Casillas|language=es|date=15 July 2012|access-date=3 February 2016}} He helped them to win the season's UEFA Champions League, although he did not make the list of 18 for the final itself.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/realmadrid-in-ec.html|title=Real Madrid CF – All the players in European Cups|first=Emilio|last=Pla Díaz|access-date=3 February 2016|url-status=live|website=RSSSF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905120400/http://rsssf.com/players/realmadrid-in-ec.html|archive-date=5 September 2015}}

After being loaned to A.C. Milan in October 2000,{{cite news|url=http://elpais.com/diario/2000/10/27/deportes/972597609_850215.html|title=Julio César se va al Milan cedido hasta el final de esta temporada|trans-title=Julio César goes to Milan on loan until the end of this season|newspaper=El País|first=Óscar|last=Sanz|language=es|date=27 October 2000|access-date=3 February 2016}} Júlio César quickly left the Italians unsettled, and he returned to Spain with Real Sociedad also on loan. The following off-season, he joined S.L. Benfica on yet another loan.{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2001/07/13/mas_futbol/994975203_850215.html|title=El Madrid cede a Julio César al Benfica|trans-title=Madrid loan Julio César to Benfica|newspaper=Diario AS|language=es|date=13 July 2001|access-date=3 February 2016}}

=Bolton=

After a one-year spell 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's Premier League, signing with Bolton Wanderers.

Júlio César's debut came on 14 August 2004 in a 4–1 home victory over Charlton Athletic.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3553168.stm|title=Bolton 4–1 Charlton|publisher=BBC Sport|date=14 August 2004|access-date=3 February 2016}} However, after the next game, a 2–0 away defeat to Fulham,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3564562.stm|title=Fulham 2–0 Bolton|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 August 2004|access-date=3 February 2016}} he found himself dropped from the starting line-up in favour of Tunisian international Radhi Jaïdi; he also sustained a broken foot against Manchester United at Old Trafford, on Boxing Day, which was his last appearance of the season.{{cite web|url=https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/2017/11/14/16640586/boltons-brazilians|title=Bolton's Brazilians|publisher=SB Nation|first=Jamie|last=Moss|date=14 November 2017|access-date=10 January 2019}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2007/06/16/sfnste116.xml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011230224/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2007/06/16/sfnste116.xml|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2007|title=What Stevens said about each club|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=16 June 2007|access-date=17 June 2007}}

=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. He scored in the match dubbed "Aztecazo", a 4–1 turn-around win against Club América after a 3–1 home loss for the 2005 Apertura.{{cite news|url=https://www.ole.com.ar/-/tigres-america-aztecazo-aguilas_0_BJ83vl1inx.html|title=Aztecazo histórico|trans-title=Historic aztecazo|newspaper=Olé|language=es|date=29 July 2016|access-date=10 January 2019}}

In July 2006, Júlio César moved to Olympiacos F.C. on a three-year contract.{{cite news|url=https://atarde.uol.com.br/esportes/noticias/1034849-julio-cesar-contratado-pelo-olympiakos|title=Júlio César contratado pelo Olympiakos|trans-title=Júlio César signed by Olympiakos|newspaper=Jornal A Tarde|language=pt|date=23 July 2006|access-date=9 October 2019|archive-date=9 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009012319/https://atarde.uol.com.br/esportes/noticias/1034849-julio-cesar-contratado-pelo-olympiakos|url-status=dead}} He scored five times from 27 appearances in his first year, being essential to the conquest of the Superleague Greece championship. On 31 October 2006, he scored in a 1–1 away draw against A.S. Roma for Champions League group stage,{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2006/matches/Round=2357/match=1116369/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514190033/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2006/matches/round=2357/match=1116369/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 May 2013|title=Roma 1–1 Olympiacos|publisher=UEFA|date=31 October 2006|access-date=3 February 2016}} but his team eventually ranked last.

In the following years, Júlio César represented FC Dinamo București (Romania) and Gaziantepspor (Turkey). Before agreeing to a one-and-a-half-year deal with the latter, he spoke with compatriot and former Real Madrid teammate Roberto Carlos, then at Fenerbahçe SK, asking him for information about the Süper Lig.{{cite web|url=http://www.gaziantepspor.org.tr/haber_detay.asp?habid=541|title=Julio Cesar İmzaladı|trans-title=Julio Cesar signed|publisher=Gaziantepspor|language=tr|date=28 January 2009|access-date=28 January 2009}}{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}

=Sporting Kansas City=

On 14 March 2011, after only a few weeks in Portugal with C.S. Marítimo,{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2010/08/17/futbol/futbol_internacional/1282063832.html|title=El central brasileño Julio César refuerza al Marítimo de Funchal|trans-title=Brazilian stopper Julio César bolsters Marítimo from Funchal|newspaper=Marca|location=Madrid|language=es|date=17 August 2010|access-date=3 February 2016}} 32-year-old Júlio César signed for Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2011/03/kc-signs-brazilian-defender-julio-cesar|title=KC signs Brazilian defender Julio Cesar|publisher=Sporting Kansas City|first=Kurt|last=Austin|date=14 March 2011|access-date=14 March 2011|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924105202/http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2011/03/kc-signs-brazilian-defender-julio-cesar|url-status=dead}} 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".{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/2011/03/12/2723471/sporting-kc-finally-signs-defender.html|title=Sporting KC finally signs defender Julio Cesar|publisher=The Full 90|date=13 March 2011|access-date=13 March 2011}}

César was released by Kansas City on 19 November 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2012/11/sporting-kansas-city-waives-four-players|title=Sporting Kansas City waives four players|publisher=Sporting Kansas City|date=19 November 2012|access-date=8 April 2013|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924105801/http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2012/11/sporting-kansas-city-waives-four-players|url-status=dead}}

=Toronto FC=

On 14 January 2013, Júlio César joined Toronto FC.{{cite web|url=http://www.cp24.com/report-toronto-fc-sign-brazilian-julio-cesar-1.1113942|title=Report: Toronto FC sign Brazilian Julio Cesar|publisher=CP24|date=14 January 2013|access-date=8 April 2013|archive-date=16 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116064308/http://www.cp24.com/report-toronto-fc-sign-brazilian-julio-cesar-1.1113942|url-status=dead}} He was released two months later, after only appearing in one pre-season game; during his spell in North America, he was deployed mainly as a defensive midfielder.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/mls/story/?id=419388|title=Toronto FC releases veteran Brazilian MF Cesar|publisher=The Sports Network|date=29 March 2013|access-date=8 April 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/mls/toronto-fc-releases-midfielder-julio-cesar/|title=Toronto FC releases midfielder Julio Cesar|publisher=Sportsnet|first=John|last=Molinaro|date=29 March 2013|access-date=9 October 2019}}

Coaching career

After retiring, Júlio César obtained his UEFA Pro licence as a manager. He also worked as an ambassador for the Real Madrid Foundation in Brazil.{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/real-madrid/2018/03/24/5ab6962de5fdeaeb4d8b4632.html|title=Real Madrid: Julio César, embajador de los clinics de la Fundación Real Madrid en Brasil|trans-title=Real Madrid: Julio César, clinic ambassador of the Real Madrid Foundation in Brazil|newspaper=Marca|first=J. F.|last=Díaz|language=es|date=24 March 2018|access-date=13 May 2018}}

In January 2019, Julio César was appointed head coach of Spanish amateurs CD Cristo Atlético in Palencia.{{cite news|url=https://www.elnortedecastilla.es/deportes/futbol/julio-cesar-nuevo-20190109132819-nt.html|title=Julio César, nuevo entrenador del Palencia Cristo|trans-title=Julio César, new manager of Palencia Cristo|newspaper=El Norte de Castilla|language=es|date=9 January 2019|access-date=22 January 2019}}

Honours

Real Madrid

UEFA Champions League: 1999–2000

Austria Wien

Austrian Football Bundesliga: 2002–03{{cite web|url=http://www.austria-archiv.at/kader.php?Saison_ID=92&Expand_ID=23#S23|title=Saison 2002/03|trans-title=2002/03 season|publisher=Austria Archiv|language=de|access-date=9 October 2019}}

Tigres

InterLiga: 2006{{cite web|url=https://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/liga-mx/contra-todo-tigres-va-a-la-libertadores-al-ganar-2-1-al-monterrey-en-t-e|title=Contra todo, Tigres va a la Libertadores al ganar 2–1 al Monterrey en T.E.|trans-title=Against all odds, Tigres go to Libertadores after beating Monterrey 2–1 in O.T.|publisher=Medio Tiempo|first=Diego|last=Pineda|language=es|date=15 January 2006|access-date=9 October 2019}}

Olympiacos

Super League Greece: 2006–07,{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8QLseQ8hWWYC&q=j%C3%BAlio+c%C3%A9sar+campe%C3%A3o+gr%C3%A9cia+olympiacos&pg=PA32|title=Rivaldo e Júlio César|trans-title=Rivaldo and Júlio César|lang=pt|date=May 2007|access-date=9 October 2019}} 2007–08
Greek Cup: 2007–08
Greek Super Cup: 2007

Sporting Kansas City

U.S. Open Cup: 2012{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/aug/09/us-open-cup-2012-final-sporting-kansas-city-seattle-sounders|title=US Open Cup final: Sporting KC 1–1 (3–2 pens) Seattle Sounders – as it happened|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Graham|last=Parker|date=9 August 2012|access-date=9 October 2019}}