| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | César Sánchez Domínguez | ||
| Date of birth | 2 September 1971 | ||
| Place of birth | Cáceres, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Villarreal | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Plasencia | |||
| Valladolid | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1991–1993 | Valladolid B | ||
| 1992–2000 | Valladolid | 206 | (0) |
| 2000–2005 | Real Madrid | 20 | (0) |
| 2005–2008 | Zaragoza | 110 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Tottenham | 0 | (0) |
| 2009–2011 | Valencia | 63 | (0) |
| 2011– | Villarreal | 2 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2000 | Spain | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 September 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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César Sánchez Domínguez (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈθesar ˈsantʃeθ]; born 2 September 1971), known as César or Sánchez, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Villarreal CF as a goalkeeper.
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César was born in Cáceres, Extremadura. He graduated through Real Valladolid's youth ranks, and made his debut with the first team in a 0–6 home defeat against FC Barcelona, at the end of the 1991–92 season. He only missed four league games between 1995–2000 combined.
Sánchez signed in 2000–01 for La Liga giants Real Madrid, initially backing-up wonderkid Iker Casillas. However, the following season, he eventually became first-choice and started five out of nine UEFA Champions League matches during the capital side's victorious campaign, but was substituted by Casillas in the final against Bayer Leverkusen after suffering an injury.
In 2005–06, César joined Real Zaragoza,[1] and was everpresent in the Aragonese side's lineups during three seasons. In August 2008, after Zaragoza's relegation to the second division, new boss Marcelino García Toral sidelined the player into the B team.
Shortly after, Sánchez was bought by Juande Ramos's Tottenham Hotspur.[2] He made his first and only appearance for the London club against Liverpool, in a 4–2 win for the season's Football League Cup, replacing injured Heurelho Gomes.[3]
On 20 January 2009, César returned to Spain, joining Valencia CF on a free transfer until the end of the season.[4] The Che had just lost, during a 2–3 loss at Athletic Bilbao, first-choice Renan to a groin injury. Despite this, César was still named on the bench for a Tottenham game on the 21st, the League Cup semifinal second leg against Burnley. On January 23, Tottenham announced that his contract had been cancelled by mutual consent.[5] He retained first-choice status even when the Brazilian recovered from his injury.
After an impressive half-season, César (aged almost 38) renewed his link for another year.[6] He started 2009–10 on the bench, playing second-fiddle to new signing Miguel Ángel Moyà; however, after unconvincing displays by the latter, he regained the starting spot, keeping consecutive clean sheets against Racing de Santander (1–0), defending champions Barcelona (0–0), UD Almería (3–0) and Málaga CF (1–0). In May 2010, after helping Valencia to the third place, with the team consequently returning to the Champions League, the veteran renewed his contract for another season.
On 2 April 2011, César became the oldest goalkeeper in Spanish League history as he appeared - as a starter - in a 4–2 away win against Getafe CF, aged 39 years and 212 days.[7] He contributed with 15 games as Valencia finished third and qualified to the Champions League.
However, after the club acquired Diego Alves and renewed youth graduate Vicente Guaita's contract, César became surplus to requirements. On 2 June 2011, he signed a one-year contract with Valencian Community neighbours Villarreal CF,[8] making his league debut on 10 September in a 2–2 home draw against Sevilla FC: after replacing sent off Diego López early into the first half, he stopped the ensuing penalty by Álvaro Negredo, whom however managed to score with a putback.[9] Subsequently, he became only the fourth player to appear in a Spanish top division match over the age of 40, following Harry Lowe, Amedeo Carboni and Donato.
César earned his first and only cap for Spain on 16 August 2000, in a 4–1 friendly defeat to Germany in Hannover.
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