César Vinicio Cervo de Luca (born 19 May 1979), known as just César, is a former Brazilian football defender. César also holds Italian nationality through descent.[1]
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Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | César Vinicio Cervo de Luca | ||
Date of birth | (1979-05-19) 19 May 1979 (age 43) | ||
Place of birth | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) | Centre back | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2000–2003 | Fluminense | 97 | (8) |
2004–2005 | Chievo | 7 | (1) |
2005 | → Catania (loan) | 19 | (0) |
2005–2007 | Catania | 37 | (1) |
2007–2009 | Chievo | 39 | (4) |
2009 | → Padova (loan) | 37 | (0) |
2009–2011 | Padova | 36 | (0) |
2011 | Juve Stabia | 1 | (0) |
2012 | Cremonese | 14 | (0) |
2012–2015 | Virtus Entella | 94 | (5) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, César started his career with hometown club Fluminense.
In January 2004, he was signed by Italian Serie A club Chievo on free transfer. He signed a 6 months contract with option to extend to 30 June 2007.[1] In January 2005 he was loaned to Serie B club Catania along with Higo. Catania later bought him in co-ownership deal for €150,000.[2] He followed the team promoted to Serie A and played his first Serie A match on 18 February 2007 against Fiorentina since he left Chievo 3 years before. That season he only played 8 Serie A matches. In June 2007, Chievo was announced to buy back the player from Catania through closed tender bid mediated by Lega Calcio, for €440,000.[2][3] He was a regular starter for Chievo in 2007–08 Serie B, partnered with Davide Mandelli, winning the cadetto that season and promoted back to Serie A in 2008. With arrival of Santiago Morero and Mario Yepes, César became a backup again in 2008–09 Serie A.
In January 2009, he was loaned to Padova.[4] He won Lega Pro Prima Divisione runner-up with team and promoted to Serie B. But Padova did not excise the rights to buy him in co-ownership deal.[5] However, in July 2009 he was signed outright for free,[6] agreed a 2-year contract.[7]
After retirement as a professional footballer, César became a "team manager" of Virtus Entella.[8][9]