César Arzo

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Arzo and the second or maternal family name is Amposta.

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 39)
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)
2006–2007	→ Recreativo (loan)	24	(0)
2007–2008	→ Murcia (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

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

Club

^[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

Club

Villarreal

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2003, 2004

AEK

• Greek Football Cup: 2015–16

Kairat

• Kazakhstan Cup: 2017
• Kazakhstan Super Cup: 2017