Paulo César (footballer, born 1980)
# Paulo César (footballer, born 1980)

Paulo César Rocha Rosa (born 5 January 1980), known as Paulo César, is a Brazilian former footballer who played as a forward.

He spent most of his professional career in Portugal, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 269 matches and 48 goals during 13 seasons, mainly with Braga and União de Leiria.

## Football career

Paulo César was born in São Luís, Maranhão. After starting playing football with Vila Nova Futebol Clube he moved to Portugal still a youngster, and represented Gil Vicente FC, Vitória de Guimarães, Rio Ave F.C. and U.D. Leiria, making his Primeira Liga debut on 20 August 2000 against S.C. Campomaiorense; in 2003 he had a short return stint in Brazil, with Grêmio Esportivo Inhumense.

On 9 March 2008, Paulo César scored one for Leiria (eventually relegated) against S.L. Benfica at the Estádio da Luz, and the 2–2 final score meant the opposition coach José Antonio Camacho's dismissal. In July, after netting five goals in 29 games in his last season, he signed for S.C. Braga.

In his second campaign with the Minho club, Paulo César contributed prominently as it achieved a best-ever runner-up league position, notably scoring in home wins against Benfica (2–0) and Sporting CP (1–0), two of his five during the season.

Paulo César appeared in 40 official matches in 2010–11, including six in Braga's runner-up campaign in the UEFA Europa League. On 14 April 2011, he was sent off in the 30th minute of the quarter-finals second leg against FC Dynamo Kyiv for a dangerous challenge, but his team managed to progress to the next stage after securing a 0–0 home draw (1–1 on aggregate).

In January 2013, 33-year-old Paulo César left Braga and returned to his homeland, joining lowly Santa Cruz Futebol Clube.

## Honours

Braga

* Taça da Liga: 2012–13
* UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2008
* UEFA Europa League: Runner-up 2010–11

Santa Cruz

* Campeonato Pernambucano: 2013
