In 20 La Liga seasons, he played 401 games, with Valladolid, Real Madrid, Zaragoza, Valencia and Villarreal, being first choice in three of those clubs and winning seven major titles with the second, including the 2002 Champions League.

He graduated from Real Valladolid's youth academy, and made his debut with the first team in a 0–6 home defeat against FC Barcelona where he came on for Mauro Ravnić early into the second half, at the end of the 1991–92 season.

However, the following season, he eventually became first-choice and started five out of nine UEFA Champions League matches during the capital side's victorious campaign, but was substituted by Casillas in the final with Bayer 04 Leverkusen after suffering an injury.

[8] César returned to Spain on 20 January 2009, joining Valencia CF on a free transfer until the end of the season[9] as the Che had just lost first-choice Renan to a groin injury, during a 3–2 loss at Athletic Bilbao.

On 2 June 2011, he signed a one-year deal with Valencian Community neighbours Villarreal CF,[21] making his league debut on 10 September in a 2–2 home draw against Sevilla FC: after replacing sent off Diego López early into the first half, he stopped the ensuing penalty by Álvaro Negredo, whom however managed to score with a putback.