kids encyclopedia robot

Júlio César (footballer, born 1963) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Júlio César
10. Tag der Legenden 2014 46.jpg
Júlio César in 2014
Personal information
Full name Júlio César da Silva
Date of birth (1963-03-08) 8 March 1963 (age 61)
Place of birth Bauru, Brazil
Height 1.89 m
Playing position Centre back
Youth career
0000–1978 Noroeste Bauru
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1986 Guarani 54 (3)
1986–1987 Brest 32 (1)
1987–1990 Montpellier 93 (10)
1990–1994 Juventus 89 (3)
1994–1999 Borussia Dortmund 80 (7)
1998 Botafogo (loan) 16 (0)
1999 Panathinaikos (loan) 3 (0)
1999–2000 Werder Bremen 12 (0)
2001 Rio Branco
Total 379 (24)
National team
1986–1993 Brazil 13 (0)
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Júlio César da Silva (born 8 March 1963), usually known as Júlio César, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Throughout his career, he played with multiple teams in Brazil and Europe, and also represented the Brazil national team at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, and at the 1987 Copa América.

Club career

Born in Bauru, São Paulo, Júlio César began his career in 1979 with Brazilian club Guarani. He moved to Europe in 1986, after a successful World Cup in Mexico, spending a season with French club Stade Brestois. The following season, he played for Montpellier, where he remained for three seasons, winning the Coupe de France during his final season with the team.

He moved to Italian club Juventus in 1990, in an attempt to strengthen the club's fragile defence, making his Serie A debut on 9 September 1990, in a 2–1 away win over Parma. He remained in Turin until 1994, although, despite some solid performances, his time with the club was largely unsuccessful; his only trophy with Juventus was the UEFA Cup, which he won in 1993, under Giovanni Trapattoni. In total, he made 125 appearances for Juventus, scoring six goals, two of which came in European Competitions, and three of which came during his 91 Serie A appearances.

In 1994, he was purchased by German club Borussia Dortmund, where he immediately won consecutive Bundesliga and DFL-Supercup titles, during his first two seasons with the team, as well as the UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup in 1997 (though he missed the final of the former through injury). He remained with the club until 1999, apart from loans to Brazilian club Botafogo in 1998, and Greek club Panathinaikos in 1999. Later that year, he joined Werder Bremen for the 1999–2000 Bundesliga season, before moving back to Brazil once again, to play for Rio Branco, in 2001, where he retired.

International career

Júlio César played 13 official matches for the Brazil national team, from April 1986 to June 1993; he made his debut on 8 April 1986, in a 3–0 home win over East Germany. He also played for Brazil against "The Rest of the World" in 1989 and for "The Rest of the World" against Brazil in 1990.

He played for Brazil at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico and won the Best Central Defender Award, being elected to the team of the tournament. However, his outstanding performance in the tournament was tempered by his penalty miss against France in the memorable quarter-final in Guadalajara. With the penalty-shootout tied at 3–3, after Michel Platini's had infamously shot his spot kick over the bar, Cesar stepped up for Brazil only to see his powerful effort crash against the left post. Luis Fernández converted the next penalty and subsequently won the match for France. The following year, he also represented his country at the 1987 Copa América.

Style of play

Widely considered to be one of Brazil's best centre-backs, Júlio César was known for his physical strength, speed, and aerial ability, as well as his positioning, tackling, and adeptness at reading the game. A quick, versatile, and powerful defender, with good feet, vision, and passing range, he was also capable of playing as a sweeper, a position which allowed him to contribute to his teams' attacks, and make runs into the opponent's half, where he used his aerial prowess, as well as his midfield-like elegance on the ball and technical skills, to great effect; he was also an accurate set-piece and penalty kick taker, possessing a powerful shot from distance, which made him an additional offensive threat.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Guarani 1980 Série A
1981 Série B
1982 Série A 17 2 17 2
1983 Série A 11 0 11 0
1984 Série B 8 0 8 0
1985 Série A 18 1 18 1
1986 Série A
Total 54 3 54 3
Brest 1986–87 French Division 1 32 1 32 1
Montpellier 1987–88 French Division 1 37 5 37 5
1988–89 French Division 1 26 1 2 0 28 1
1989–90 French Division 1 30 4 30 4
Total 93 10 2 0 95 10
Juventus 1990–91 Serie A 29 1 4 0 8 2 1 0 42 3
1991–92 Serie A 33 1 7 1 0 0 0 0 40 2
1992–93 Serie A 16 1 3 0 7 0 0 0 26 1
1993–94 Serie A 11 0 2 0 4 0 0 0 17 1
Total 89 3 16 1 19 2 1 0 125 6
Borussia Dortmund 1994–95 Bundesliga 25 1 2 1 10 1 0 0 37 3
1995–96 Bundesliga 23 2 3 0 6 0 1 1 33 3
1996–97 Bundesliga 10 3 1 0 4 0 0 0 15 3
1997–98 Bundesliga 17 1 0 0 7 0 2 0 26 1
1998–99 Bundesliga 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Total 80 7 6 1 27 1 3 1 116 10
Botafogo (loan) 1998 Série A 16 0 16 0
Panathinaikos (loan) 1998–99 Alpha Ethniki 3 0 3 0
Werder Bremen 1999–2000 Bundesliga 12 0 2 0 6 0 0 0 20 0
Rio Branco 2001 Série C
Career total 379 24 24 2 54 3 4 1 461 30

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Brazil 1986 6 0
1987 3 0
1988 0 0
1989 1 0
1990 0 0
1991 1 0
1992 0 0
1993 2 0
Total 13 0

Honours

Montpellier

Juventus

Borussia Dortmund

Individual

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Júlio César da Silva para niños

kids search engine
Júlio César (footballer, born 1963) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.