LEGENDS
César Rodríguez
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 the third highest goalscorer in all matches for the Club, behind Alcántara and Samitier and won the pichichi award as the highest scorer in the Spanish League in the 1947-48 season with 27 goals in 24 game, as well as being runner up on three occasions and the team’s top scorer for seven straight seasons from 1944 to 1951. Cesar 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
-
César
Sporting career
-Seasons at the club: 1939 and 1942-55
-Games played: 433
-Goals: 291
-Trophies:
2 Copes Llatines (1949 i 1952)
5 Leagues (1944/45, 47/48, 48/49, 51/52 and 52/53)
3 Spanish Cups (50/51, 51/52 and 52/53)
2 Eva Duarte Cups (1948 and 1952)
Know as “El Pelucas” “ Wigman” because of his early balding, Cesar 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, Cesar was known as a modest man and one press report commented: “Cesar is the most modest of players, but a maestro - the most complete player and a real one off”.
He rejoined Barça as coach in 1963, but his arrival coincided with a grey period for the Club and he left after just one year. Until Leo Messi overtook him, for sixty years he was the Club’s leading scorer in official games with 232 goals.
