One of Barça’s greatest ever players. A natural centre forward and an extraordinary goalscorer, famous for his powerful headers, César (León 1920 –Barcelona 1995) is one of the players who has scored most times for for the Club. In the Spanish League in the 1947-48 season he was top scorer with 27 goals in 24 games. César was a key part in the legendary forward line at the Club at the start of the 1950s, made up of Basora, César, Kubala, Moreno and Manchón.
Known as “El Pelucas” “ Wigman” because of his early balding, César had a series of footballing qualities which made him a great: combining great skill and a knack of scoring that never left him. His powerful headers and a strong shot with both feet came together with fine dribbling skills and a marvellous never say die attitude in a player who was also a good reader of the game.
The older Barça fans still remember great goals when he would suddenly appear in the box to latch onto a ball and fire home, after appearing to be languishing deep. Although he was a real star of his time, César was known as a modest man and one press report commented: “César is the most modest of players, but a maestro - the most complete player and a real one off”. He was honoured twice by the Club, both at the Les Corts stadium, the first on June 3, 1951, when he was still a Barça player, and the second on September 10, 1958, playing for Elche, the tribute held at the old field.
César rejoined Barça as coach in 1963, but his arrival coincided with a lacklustre period for the FC Barcelona and he left at the beginning of the 1964/65 season.
Until Leo Messi overtook him, for sixty years he was the Club’s leading scorer in official games with 232 goals.
Career
- Seasons at the club: 1939 and 1942-55
- Games played: 456
- Goals: 304
Honours
- 2 Latin Cups (1949/50 and 1952/53)
- 5 Leagues (1944/45, 47/48, 48/49, 51/52 and 52/53)
- 3 Spanish Cups (1950/51, 51/52 and 52/53)
- 3 Eva Duarte Cups (1948/49, 51/52 and 52/53)
