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CARLOS CÉSAR SAMPAIO DE CAMPOS
Date of Birth: 31 March, 1968
Nationality: Brazil (international)
Period at Deportivo: 2000 - 2001 (October)
Transfer: Free Transfer (2000, from Palmeiras)
Clubs: Sao Paolo (2004), Sanfrecce Hiroshima (2003), Kashiwa Reysol (2002), Corinthians (2001), Deportivo (2000-2001), Palmeiras (1999-2000), Yokohama Flügels (1995-1998), Palmeiras (1992-1994), Santos (1986-1991)
Sold: Free Transfer (2001, to Corinthians)
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 72 kg
Position: Defensive Midfielder (central)
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 With CÉSAR SAMPAIO the Galicians once again acquired an ex-Palmeiras player, as had been the case before with Rivaldo (1996), Flávio Conceiçao (1996), Djalminha (1997) and Luizão (1997). But this time it didn't concern a Brazilian player with a bright future ahead, because the midfielder already had a long career behind him and only arrived at Deportivo at the age of thirty-two. Besides, the club didn't have to pay for him as he came on a free transfer.
Fourteen years earlier, the eighteen-year old player had made his debut in Brazil for Santos. Contrary to many other Brazilian players he would not change clubs much in these years as footballer, and stayed at Santos until 1991. He then made his debut in the Brazilian national team, signed a contract at Palmeiras, and stayed at the Brazilian giants from 1992 until 1994. He was just gone when Djalminha and Rivaldo arrived at the club, and later Luizão. But he spent the final two years at Palmeiras together with Flávio Conceíçao.
Then his career took a weird turn compared to many other classy Brazilian players, as he went to Japan instead of Europe. In March, 1995 he made his debut for Yokohama Flügels and stayed at them in the years between 1995 and 1998. He was still part of their team when he played the World Cup 1998 in France with Brazil, without a doubt the highlight of his career.
"My strong point has always been my consistency", he once commented on his characteristics. "I have never been a regular goalscorer and that has never been my intention”. But his production at this tournament, where he occupied a place which could have been covered by Mauro Silva, was impressive. In fact, his positioning at set pieces and his powerful headers turned him into one of Brazil's most dangerous attacking assets at this World Cup 1998.
 With players like Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Bebeto near his side, it was César Sampaio who scored the first goal of the tournament against Scotland. It was 10 June, 1998 and after four minutes his header gave defending World Champions Brazil the lead. Brazil needed a Scottish own goal to secure the final victory, but showed no mercy in their second group match against Morocco. César Sampaio was taken off near the end of this match, and faced Deportivo players Naybet, Hadji and Bassir. With qualification for the next round already assured, César Sampaio was rested during the loss against Norway (1-2).
On 27 June, 1998 he was back for the second round match against Chile. Nobody will have missed his presence because after twenty-seven minutes he had scored two goals after assists of Dunga and Bebeto. Brazil finished the match off in a professional way (4-1), and were to meet Denmark in the Quarter-Finals. Of course César Sampaio also started this match, and saw his team achieving a narrow win (3-2). Their Semi-Final win against The Netherlands was even more a close call, but Brazil qualified for the finals after winning on penalties. The final of 12 July, 1998 proved to be a big disappointment for Brazil, as they were beaten 3-0 by hosts France. Nevertheless, César Sampaio had played a World Cup final, started six out of seven matches, and scored three goals during the tournament. One of his dreams had been realized.
César Sampaio hadn’t expected a prolongation of his international career after he moved to Japan in the mid-nineties. "I was very happy in Japan, but when I went there I didn't think I would be playing for the national team any more," he commented. The midfielder was present during the Copa America editions of 1993 and 1995, but was overlooked for the World Cup 1994. Nevertheless, he would reach playing more than fifty matches for Brazil during his career.
 After the tournament he went back to Brazil, and played two years at Palmeiras. Until Deportivo showed an interest in June, 2000. The player himself was surprised also and said that "it's normal for European clubs to buy much younger players with the intention of selling them later. That's why I am surprised that, at my age, I can still attract interest from a Spanish club. I have a lot of love for Palmeiras, where I've won so much. But I've dreamed of playing in Europe all my life”.
And it happened, as Deportivo needed to improve their squad as they had qualified for the first time ever for the Champions League that year. Molina, Capdevila, Emerson, Duscher, Valerón, Pandiani and Tristán also were signed back then, but César Sampaio can be considered as taking the place of Flávio Conceiçao (who was sold to Real Madrid).
César Sampaio was slowly brought during the first weeks of the season 2000/2001, and made his debut (as a substitute) in the Champions League match at Panathinaikos. On 16 September, 2000 he replaced Emerson in the 0-3 Liga win at Racing de Santander and would also play in the next seven Liga matches (including the ones against Barcelona and Real Madrid). His first full match he played on 26 September, 2000 during a 0-0 draw at Zidane’s Juventus and he also was present in Riazor against the Italians and Panathinaikos.
So the Brazilian midfielder had quickly conquered an important position in the team, on the side of Mauro Silva or Emerson. On 8 November, 2000 he played one half at Hamburger SV, but only played two more Liga matches that year: in December against Espanyol and Rayo Vallecano. In fact, his final match that season he played that same month at Universidad de Las Palmas in the Copa del Rey tournament, because of achilles problems.
In the year 2001 this injury became a serious one, and he even had to undergo achilles tendon surgery in April after months of trouble. This was a sad ending to his season, despite such a successful start in Europe. But César Sampaio would not play again for Deportivo. The club signed expensive Sergio González in the summer of 2001, and still had Mauro Silva, Emerson and Duscher for the position of defensive midfielder. Mid-October 2001, injury-troubled César Sampaio and Deportivo split up by mutual agreement and with all the respect.
 The player signed a contract at Brazilian club Corinthians, but soon returned to Japan and played at Kashiwa Reysol and Sanfrecce Hiroshima. In June, 2004 he once again returned to Brazil and signed a contract at Sao Paulo until the end of the year. Thirty-six year old César Sampaio explained that “I feel fit and fine, and these six months will be enough for me to prove my fitness”. Nevertheless, in December of that year he quit football.
One final thing has to be mentioned about the player, as he’s deeply religious. César Sampaio reads the Bible before every match, and spent much of the long hours at the Brazilian team camp organizing bible-reading sessions with some of his team mates. The player explained that “as I observed the fall of some colleagues on my team, I also discovered that in soccer you are just a tool, an instrument. As long as you are doing fine and playing well and as long as you are doing what the team requires of you, people will treat you well. But when you fail, things are different - and painful”.
“In 1987 I invited Jesus Christ into my life and accepted Him as my Savior. The change was immediate! God honored my decision in practical ways. The following game I was elected the best player on the field. I received many rewards and I was sure it was He who gave me all that. The following months I grounded myself in the Word (the teachings of the Bible) and in my commitment to God and to the church”.
“Once some bandits held me at gun point. They took away my car and held that gun right on my nose. I was totally at the mercy of those assailants. At that moment I was sure that my life depended not on those guys but on God. I was able to experience the peace that only the love and faithfulness of God could give - even in difficult moments like that. Surely I was in His good hands, and I continue to be because the Lord is my star”.
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