Cesar Aparecido Rodrigues was born in Sao Paolo on October 24, 1974.
He started out as left-back in Brazil but once he came to Italy, he lacked the defensive qualities needed in Serie A and was moved to midfield. That position was ideal for him. Great crosser, he was part of the Roberto Mancini team that crushed all opposition and won the Coppa Italia in 2004.
He started his football career in the youth team of Clube Atletico Juventus. At 19 years of age he was one of the players that allowed his club getting promoted to the Campeonato Paulista, the top-flight professional football league in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. The president of his club had decided to award each player with $100,000, but as the cash was being delivered two men stole the money. The police found out that Cesar was involved and he was sentenced to five years and four months of jail.
In 1998 he signed for Sao Caetano who sent him to their satellite club Uniao Barbarense and was one of the protagonists of their promotion. He stayed there a year before going back to Sao Caetano where he became their most important player and captain. His club reached the final of the Brazilian Championships, unfortunately lost to Vasco de Gama.
He was doing so well that he was called up for Brazilian National team. He played two games for Brazil in the 2002 World Cup Qualifiers.
In 2001 he moved to Lazio. After difficulties in his first year finding the right position on the pitch, Roberto Mancini moved him to midfield and he became a important player for the manager. He won the 2003-2004 Coppa Italia and stayed with Lazio even after the arrival of Claudio Lotito and the difficult 2004-2005 season. He had ambition and refused to renew his contract with Lazio in the hope of moving to Inter and rejoining Mancini. This happened in January 2006.
He did however not play much for Inter in Serie A, a little more in Coppa Italia which Inter won. He did also win the 2005-06 scudetto, but his contribution was minimal. Inter loaned him to Corinthians for the next season but in January 2007 he returned to Italy and played for Livorno. In 2007-08 he was back at Inter where he played just slightly more than the previous stint and won another scudetto.
Inter did not renew his contract when it expired. He signed for Bologna as a free agent but found little playing time. He ended his career in 2009-10 in Lega Pro First Division (the former Serie C1) club Pescina VG.
Once he stopped playing he became manager. He has managed mainly youth teams, even at Lazio. He has also played eight-a-side football for Lazio.
Cesar appeared in 119 games for the Biancocelesti (86 in Serie A, 11 in Coppa Italia, 4 in Champions League, 13 in the UEFA Cup, 4 in the UEFA Intertoto Cup and 1 in the Supper Coppa) and scored 18 goals (13 in Serie A, 2 in Coppa Italia, 1 in Champions League and 2 in UEFA Cup).
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | UEFA Cup | Intertoto Cup | Super Coppa |
2001-02 | 21 (1) | 15 | 3 (1) | 3 | - | - | - |
2002-03 | 36 (4) | 26 (3) | 1 | - | 9 (1) | - | - |
2003-04 | 20 (8) | 14 (6) | 5 (1) | 1 (1) | - | - | - |
2004-05 | 27 (4) | 20 (3) | 2 | - | 4 (1) | - | 1 |
2005-Jan 2006 | 15 (1) | 11 (1) | - | - | - | 4 | - |
Total | 119 (18) | 86 (13) | 11 (2) | 4 (1) | 13 (1) | 4 | 1 |
Sources