Born in Itaguaí, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Júlio César started his professional career at Grêmio.
[2] On 1 February he returned to Rio Grande do Sul state for Juventude, where he met his namesake Júlio César Zabotto.
In January 2011 he left for Guaratinguetá (at that time the club relocated to Americana) in 3-year contract.
However, in the first half of the season, his namesake, centre-back Júlio César Coimbra was a regular starter.
He played 12 out of first 15 matches of the second division,[4] but only collected 3 appearances in the second half of the league (also after the arrival of the namesake), on 30 August,[5] on 27 September.