Júlio César Santos Correa, known as Júlio César, is a Brazilian retired 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. Aged 17, Júlio César signed with Spanish side Real Valladolid. He immediately began playing regularly, 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. He helped them to win the season's UEFA Champions League, although he did not make the list of 18 for the final itself. After being loaned to A.C. Milan in October 2000, 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.
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 scored 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 F.C. on a three-year contract. 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, but his team eventually ranked last. In the following years, Júlio César represented FC Dinamo Bucureşti and Gaziantepspor. 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.
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 managerPeter 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.
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. In January 2019, Julio César was appointed head coach of Spanish amateurs CD Cristo Atlético in Palencia.
