César Arzo Amposta (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈθesaɾ ˈaɾθo]; born 21 January 1986) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender.

César Arzo
Arzo with Kairat in 2017
Personal information
Full name César Arzo Amposta
Date of birth (1986-01-21) 21 January 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Villarreal, Spain
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
Villarreal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 Villarreal B
2003–2008 Villarreal 39 (1)
2006–2007Recreativo (loan) 24 (0)
2007–2008Murcia (loan) 28 (0)
2008–2009 Recreativo 24 (0)
2009–2011 Valladolid 38 (3)
2011–2013 Gent 84 (4)
2014 Zaragoza 18 (2)
2014–2015 Beitar Jerusalem 27 (0)
2015–2016 AEK Athens 23 (0)
2016–2017 Kairat 39 (2)
2018–2019 Gimnàstic 12 (0)
Total 356 (12)
International career
2002–2003 Spain U17 13 (0)
2005 Spain U19 3 (0)
2006–2008 Spain U21 4 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Spain
Men's football
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Runner-up 2003 Finland
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Runner-up 2003 Portugal
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Arzo was born in Villarreal, Valencian Community. He came through the ranks of hometown club Villarreal CF, making his debut for the first team on 23 March 2003 against Real Sociedad[1] but never being able to consolidate himself in the starting XI, however.[2]

In the 2006–07 season, Arzo was loaned to La Liga newcomers Recreativo de Huelva alongside teammates Javier López Vallejo and Santi Cazorla, moving on loan for the following campaign to another promotee, Real Murcia. Immediately after returning from his latter loan he was deemed surplus to requirements by Villarreal boss Manuel Pellegrini, rejoining, now definitely, Recreativo on a free transfer.

Arzo returned to Villarreal in July 2009, as the club retained an option to buy back from Huelva. However, he was immediately sold, signing a four-year contract with Real Valladolid as well as former Villarreal teammate Marcos.[3]

In summer 2011, aged 25, Arzo moved abroad, going on to represent in the following years K.A.A. Gent (Belgium),[2] Beitar Jerusalem FC (Israel) and AEK Athens FC (Greece).[4][5] This was interspersed with a five-month spell back in his country, with Real Zaragoza.[6]

On 5 July 2016, Arzo signed a two-year contract with Kazakhstan Premier League side FC Kairat.[7] He left by mutual agreement on 21 November 2017[8] and, late into the following month, he returned to his country by joining Gimnàstic de Tarragona.[9]

Arzo suffered a knee injury in October 2018, and subsequently retired. The following March, he joined the political party Citizens, taking part of their candidacy for the Congress of Deputies.[10]

Career statistics

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Club

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[11][12]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Villarreal 2002–03 La Liga 2 0 0 0 2 0
2003–04 10 0 2 0 2 0 14 0
2004–05 15 1 1 0 10 0 26 1
2005–06 12 0 2 0 4 0 18 0
2006–07 0 0 0 0 0 0
2007–08 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 39 1 5 0 - - 16 0 - - 60 1
Recreativo (loan) 2006–07 La Liga 24 0 2 0 26 0
Murcia (loan) 2007–08 La Liga 28 0 0 0 28 10
Recreativo 2008–09 La Liga 24 0 1 0 25 0
Valladolid 2009–10 La Liga 22 1 2 1 24 2
2010–11 Segunda División 16 2 3 0 19 2
Total 38 3 5 1 - - - - - - 43 4
Gent 2010–11 Belgian First Division A 14 0 3 0 17 0
2011–12 31 2 2 0 33 2
2012–13 31 2 3 0 4 1 38 3
2013–14 8 0 0 0 8 0
Total 84 4 8 0 - - 4 1 - - 96 5
Zaragoza 2013–14 Segunda División 18 2 0 0 18 2
Beitar Jerusalem 2014–15 Israeli Premier League 27 0 1 0 3 0 31 0
AEK Athens 2015–16 Superleague Greece 23 0 1 0 0 0 24 0
Kairat 2016 Kazakhstan Premier League 12 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 16 1
2017 27 1 3 0 2 0 1 1 33 2
Total 39 2 6 0 - - 3 0 1 1 49 3
Gimnàstic 2017–18 Segunda División 10 0 0 0 10 0
2018–19 2 0 0 0 2 0
Total 12 0 0 0 12 0
Career total 356 12 29 1 3 0 23 1 1 1 412 15

Honours

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Club

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Villarreal

AEK

Kairat

References

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  1. ^ El 'Submarino' hunde a la Real en un final explosivo (The 'Submarine' sinks Real in explosive finale); Mundo Deportivo, 24 March 2003 (in Spanish)
  2. ^ a b César Arzo, de sus dos etapas en el Decano a ser un baluarte del Gent belga (César Arzo, from his two spells with the Dean to become a stalwart of Belgium's Gent); Huelva 24, 21 January 2013 (in Spanish)
  3. ^ Marcos García y César Arzo, del Villarreal, al Valladolid (Marcos García and César Arzo, from Villarreal, to Valladolid); Diario AS, 24 July 2009 (in Spanish)
  4. ^ «Αρθο, η καλύτερη επιλογή για την ΑΕΚ» («Αrzo, the best choice for ΑΕΚ»); Gazzetta, 26 June 2015 (in Greek)
  5. ^ Ανακοίνωσε Άρθο η ΑΕΚ (Arzo announced at AEK); Sport 24, 26 June 2015 (in Greek)
  6. ^ El Real Zaragoza ficha a César Arzo hasta el 2016 (Real Zaragoza sign César Arzo until 2016); El Periódico de Aragón, 22 December 2013 (in Spanish)
  7. ^ "Сесар Арсо – игрок Кайрата" [Сésаr Аrzо – Kairat player] (in Russian). FC Kairat. 6 July 2016. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Сесар Арзо покидает Кайрат" [César Arzo leaves Kairat] (in Russian). FC Kairat. 21 November 2017. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Acord amb el defensa César Arzo" [Agreement with defender César Arzo] (in Catalan). Gimnàstic Tarragona. 29 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  10. ^ "César Arzo también se apunta a lista de Ciudadanos por Vila-real" [César Arzo also joins Vila-real's Citizens list] (in Spanish). Cadena COPE. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  11. ^ "César Arzo: César Arzo Amposta". BDFutbol. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  12. ^ "César Arzo". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
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