Júlio César

Brazilian former professional goalkeeper who spent seven years at Inter Milan, winning five Scudetti and the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League.

Júlio César Soares de Espíndola (born 3 September 1979), known as Júlio César, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He spent seven years at Italian club Inter Milan, with whom he won five Scudetti, the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League, and the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup. He was awarded the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year title in both 2009 and 2010, and was nominated for the 2009 Ballon d'Or, where he was voted into 21st place. He was also named UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year after the 2009–10 season and won the Golden Glove award at the 2013 Confederations Cup.

Quick Facts

Full name: Júlio César Soares de Espíndola
Born: 3 September 1979
Birthplace: Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height: 1.87 m / 6 ft 2 in
Position: Goalkeeper
Total caps: 452

Lore & Background

Júlio César joined Inter Milan in July 2005, signing a three-year contract for €2.45 million after a deal with Chievo. He made his official debut on 10 August 2005 in the Champions League third qualifying round against Shakhtar Donetsk, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 win. His Serie A debut came on 28 August against Treviso, a 3–0 win with another clean sheet. In the 2006–07 season, he played 32 league matches as Inter won the title with 97 points, setting a record for most consecutive matches without defeat (31). He kept 12 clean sheets and conceded 30 goals, with Inter losing only once. In 2007–08, he received his first red card for Inter in a 1–1 draw with Udinese, but finished the season with 17 clean sheets in 35 Serie A matches, a personal record. He won another Scudetto, contributing a clean sheet in the decisive last match against Parma. In 2008–09, he made his 100th Serie A appearance in a 1–0 win over Lecce, and Inter finished first with 84 points, 10 ahead of Juventus, with César equaling his personal best of 17 clean sheets in 36 matches. In July 2009, ESPN Brasil named him the best player of the 2008–09 season, and he received the Prêmio Futebol no Mundo award for the best Brazilian footballer playing outside Brazil.

Did You Know?

Júlio César saved a penalty from Brazil teammate Ronaldinho in the Derby della Madonnina on 24 January 2010, as Inter won 2–0 with nine men.
Two days before a Champions League round of 16 match against Chelsea in 2010, he was in a car accident that left him bruised and with facial lacerations, but he still started and Inter won 2–1.
He called a save against Lionel Messi in the 2010 Champions League semi-final second leg 'career defining'.
In 2010, he was named second best goalkeeper in the world by IFFHS, behind only Iker Casillas.