Bruno César

Bruno César

César playing for Benfica in 2012
Personal information
Full name Bruno César Zanaki
Date of birth (1988-11-03) 3 November 1988
Place of birth Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, Brazil
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Attacking midfielder
Second striker
Club information
Current team
Sporting CP
Number 11
Youth career
2005–2006 Bahia
2007 São Paulo
2007 Palmeiras
2008 Grêmio
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009 Ulbra 0 (0)
2009 Noroeste 0 (0)
2009–2010 Santo André 2 (1)
2010–2011 Corinthians 31 (14)
2011–2013 Benfica 32 (10)
2013–2015 Al-Ahli 26 (8)
2014Palmeiras (loan) 7 (0)
2015 Estoril 10 (1)
2015– Sporting CP 20 (4)
National team
2011 Brazil 2 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 September 2016.


Bruno César Zanaki (born 3 November 1988) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Portuguese club Sporting Clube de Portugal. He can play as an attacking midfielder, second striker or left back.

Club career

Early career

César began his professional career with Ulbra in 2009, before moving on to Noroeste in the same season. At Noroeste, he made his senior debut against Ituano in the Campeonato Paulista, where he came on as a 64th-minute substitute.[1]

Following the end of the 2009 Campeonato Paulista, César moved to Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Santo André. At Santo André, he made his professional league debut away to Coritiba. His professional league debut saw him score Santo André's fourth in a 4–2 away win.[2] For the 2010 season, he managed to breakthrough into Santo André's starting eleven where he managed seven goals in 21 appearances and helped his side reach the 2010 Campeonato Paulista final where his side lost to Santos over two legs.[3][4]

Corinthians

César would join Corinthians from Campeonato Brasileiro Série B side Santo André in May 2010. César debuted for the Timão on the 27 May in a Campeonato Brasileiro Série A game against Grêmio Barueri. He marked his first team debut with a goal which would tie the game 2–2.[5] His debut season with Corinthians saw him score 14 goals in 31 games, which helped his side finish third in the league, thus granting his side qualification to the 2011 Copa Libertadores first stage.[6] His impressive first season with Corinthians would see him be awarded by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), with the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Best Newcomer award.[7]

His second season with Corinthians would see him feature regularly in Corinthians' 2011 Campeonato Paulista campaign, where he helped his side reach the final of the competition where they were beaten by Santos.[8][9] Prior to start of the 2011 league campaign, César would be transferred to Benfica.

Benfica

On 28 March 2011, Benfica announced the acquisition of Bruno César on a transfer fee reported to be 6 million euros,[10] with César moving to the Encarnados in the summer.[11]

César made his Benfica debut against Trabzonspor in a UEFA Champions League third round qualifying match.[12] On the 20 August, César made his league debut against Feirense at the Estádio da Luz, where he marked his debut with a goal in injury time.[13] His goal scoring form in the league would continue in the next several games with goals against Nacional and Académica de Coimbra.[14][15]

His goal scoring form would see Benfica coach Jorge Jesus select him in his starting line-up. Jesus' selection of César in Benfica's first eleven would pay off as he would score in Benfica's second UEFA Champions League group stage match against Oțelul Galați.[16] César would continue to demonstrate his goal scoring form, by netting in a third round cup tie against Portimonense.[17] In Benfica's next UEFA Champions League game, César would play a pivotal role in an important win. He would help his side pick up an important away win at Basel, by scoring Benfica's first goal in a 2–0 win at the St. Jakob-Park.[18]

Following his excellent goal scoring form, César would suffer a two-month goal scoring drought through the months of November and December. He would end his scoring drought by netting in an away match to União de Leiria.[19] The several few months following January would see César play an important role in Benfica's end of season fortunes. Despite Benfica losing the league title to rivals Porto, César would help his side claim the Taça da Liga title for a fourth consecutive season, as well helping the Encarnados reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League where they beaten by eventual winners Chelsea.[20][21][22]

The arrivals of Eduardo Salvio and Ola John saw César feature less for his club side in the domestic league campaign for the 2012–13 season. César would be utilized by Jorge Jesus primarily in the Taça de Portugal, Taça da Liga and the UEFA Champions League campaigns. The first half of the 2012–13 season would see César make 16 appearances of which six were league appearances. The short amount of playing time during the first half of the season would see him leave in January 2013.

Al-Ahli

On the 21 January 2013, César joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli Jeddah on a €5.5 million transfer fee.[23][24]

He made his debut for his new club against Al-Wehda in a Saudi Professional League fixture.[25] He made his continental debut for Al-Ahli in a 2013 AFC Champions League group stage match, against Qatari side Al-Gharafa on the 27 February.[26] César would score his first league goal against Ettifaq on the 3 March, in a 4–1 away win.[27]

The following week would see César score again, this time a brace against Najran, which would help his side demolish the opposition 5–1.[28] César's goal scoring form would continue, as he netted three times in continental competitions against Iranian side Sepahan Isfahan (twice) and Qatari side El Jaish.[29][30][31]

Sporting CP

On 31 July 2015, he joined Estoril from Al-Ahli Jeddah on a €2 million transfer fee. On 14 November 2015, after just 11 matches for Estroill, he joined Sporting CP on a free transfer and signed a four years contract until June 2020. He scored 2 goals in debut for Sporting CP against Vitória Setúbal. The match was ended by 6 goals in Sporting's favours. At the end of the season, he played 18 matches in all competition, scored 4 goals.

International career

César received his first international call up by Brazil manager Mano Menezes for international friendlies against the Gabon and Egypt in November 2011.[32]

César debuted for the Canarinha on the 10 November in a 2–0 win against Gabon.[33] His second cap came four days later against Egypt in another 2–0 win.[34]

Statistics

Club

As of 14 September 2016[35]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Paulista Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ulbra 2009 31000031
Total 31000031
Noroeste 2009 0000121121
Total 0000121121
Santo André 2009 11000010
2010 0000217217
Total 110000217227
Corinthians 2010 311400003114
2011 000010181191
Total 311400101815015
Benfica 2011–12 261021401224413
2012–13 60302050160
Total 321051601726013
Al-Ahli 2012–13 834273198
2013–14 840020114
2014–15 101101171193
Total 26852111644815
Palmeiras (loan) 2014 70000080150
Total 70000080150
Estoril 2015–16 101100000111
Total 101100000111
Sporting CP 2015–16 164001010184
2016–17 4000001151
Total 204001021235
Career totals 130391138136659924458

International

National team Club Season Apps Goals
Brazil Benfica 2011 2 0
Total 2 0

Honours

Club

Grêmio
Corinthians
Benfica
Al Ahli

Individual

References

  1. "Noroeste 0-1 Ituano" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 18 February 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  2. "Coritiba 2-4 Santo André" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  3. "Santo André 2-3 Santos" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  4. "Santos 2-3 Santo André" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  5. "Grêmio Barueri 2-2 Corinthians" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  6. "Campeonato Brasileiro 2010" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  7. "Conca e Flu brilham no Prêmio Craque Brasileirão" [Conca and Flu shine at the Craque Brasileirão awards] (in Portuguese). A Tarde. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  8. "Corinthians 0-0 Santos" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 8 May 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  9. "Santos 2-1 Corinthians" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  10. "Bruno César já chegou a Lisboa" [Bruno César has arrived in Lisbon] (in Portuguese). Record. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  11. "Benfica anuncia Bruno César" [Benfica announces Bruno César] (in Portuguese). Record. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  12. "Benfica apura-se com empate na Turquia" [Benfica are through after draw in Turkey] (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  13. "Benfica vence Feirense por 3-1" [Benfica defeats Feirense 3-1] (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  14. "Nacional 0-2 Benfica" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 29 August 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  15. "Benfica vence Académica e cola-se ao FC Porto na liderança" [Benfica defeats Académica and glues itself FC Porto on top spot] (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  16. "Bruno César dá vitória ao Benfica na Roménia" [Bruno César gives Benfica victory in Romania] (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  17. "Bruno César marca, assiste e Benfica vence Portimonense" [Bruno César scores, assists and Benfica defeats Portimonense] (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  18. "Bruno César e Cardozo garantem vitória sobre Basel" [Bruno César and Cardozo guarantee over Basel] (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  19. "Assalto perfeito com a liderança como recompensa (0x4)" [Perfect assault with a recompensating leadership] (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 8 January 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  20. "Benfica escorrega e oferece título ao FC Porto (2x2)" [Benfica slips up and offers title to FC Porto (2x2)] (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 29 April 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  21. "Saviola oferece "tetra" ao Benfica na Taça da Liga (2x1)" [Saviola offers "treble" to Benfica in the League Cup (2x1)] (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  22. "Quando a coragem só não chega... (2x1)" [When their's courage its not enough... (2x1)] (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  23. "Bruno César confirma transferência para o Al-Ahli" [Bruno César confirms transfer to Al-Ahli]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 21 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  24. Bruno César deixa o Benfica e acerta com o Al-Ahli, da Arábia Saudita (Portuguese)
  25. "AL WAHDA VS. AL AHLI 1 - 3". Soccerway. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  26. "Al-Ahli Jeddah 2-0 Al-Gharafa" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  27. "AL ITTIFAQ VS. AL AHLI 1 - 4". Soccerway. 3 March 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  28. "AL AHLI VS. NAJRAN 5 - 1". Soccerway. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  29. "Sepahan 2-4 Al-Ahli Jeddah" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  30. "Al-Ahli Jeddah 4-1 Sepahan" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  31. "Al-Ahli Jeddah 2-0 El Jaish SC" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  32. "Luisão, Hulk e Kléber juntos no onze" [Luisão, Hulk e Kléber in starting eleven] (in Portuguese). Benfica. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
  33. "Gabon vs Brazil Report". Goal.com. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  34. "Egypt midfielder Ahmed Hassan wins 178th cap in defeat by Brazil". The Guardian. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  35. "Bruno César - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soocerway. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
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