Cesar first started playing soccer in Mexico at the age of three or four-years-old. He played barefooted just like to the rest of the kids because no one can afford soccer shoes, funny huh? At the age of seven Cesar bought his first pair of soccer shoes, Mr. Gonzales a shoemaker made them just for me. At the age of nine Cesar migrated to the United States of America, and that was the beginning of his soccer career. He started playing for a team called El Salto in the California Soccer League where in his first year made the Allstar-Team. Cesar was selected to play at the Los Angeles Coliseum at half time, in a friendly game between the National Teams of Mexico and Peru.
Cesar graduated from Bell Gardens High, he was the only player to play 4 year varsity. As a 9th grader Cesar played JV for the first half of the season, by that time he had already scored 24 goals, that’s when the varsity coach moved him up to varsity. For the next 3 years he worked very hard. In his High School years, Cesar got to play against Marcelo Balboa, a great defender from Cerritos High, that later became one of the best and well know defender for the U.S. National team. His teams were league champions 4 years in a row, but could not pass the second round of CIF. It was not until his senior year, class of 1984 that Cesar won the CIF chanpionship, first time in Bell Gardens history to do so. After Cesar graduated from High School, in 1985, he was given the chance to coach the Bell Gardens JV team. That year his team went undefeated, and League Champion. The following year the varsity coach brought a new coach from Germany and his coaching career ended there. For the next six to seven years Cesar continued to play soccer, until 1992 when together with a friend, while playing a friendly game in Lakewood, were approached by an AYSO coach asking them if they would like to coach a team from Lakedwood. We accepted the offer. From that moment on he never stopped coaching. Cesar have coached in the Pacific Soccer Leauge, Alhambra AYSO, and South Pasadena AYSO. In 2006 Cesar won 1st place out of 28 teams while coaching South Pasadena team..
Cesar most memorable moment in soccer are, winning the CIF championship game in a 2-1 victory against Capistrano Valley back in 1984, and running around the track with the chanpionship trophy in my hands. It is an expirience that stays with him forever.
Cesar most memorable moment in soccer are, winning the CIF championship game in a 2-1 victory against Capistrano Valley back in 1984, and running around the track with the chanpionship trophy in my hands. It is an expirience that stays with him forever.
From Coach Cesar Franco:
”I wish to continue pursuing my career as a coach in the world of soccer. In doing so, I plan to take advanced coaching courses and get prepared for future challenges. I love working with children, so I will continue working with them to help develop their skills and their ability to play the game, and having fun doing so.”
Thank you,
Cesar Franco
