Biography
Who is Boštjan Cesar?
Professional football beginnings
Boštjan Cesar began his professional club career in Croatia playing for Dinamo Zagreb. His early success included winning the Prva HNL title during the 2002 to 2003 season. He also secured two Croatian Cup trophies and two Croatian Supercup victories with the squad. These early achievements established him as a reliable centre-back in the region.
In 2005, the defender moved to France to join Marseille for a reported fee of 2.5 million euros. His time in French football eventually led to a loan spell in England. In August 2007, he joined West Bromwich Albion for a single season. He made his debut for the English club in a League Cup match against Bournemouth. He later scored his only goal for West Bromwich during a victory against Burnley in February 2008.
International career achievements
Boštjan Cesar made his debut for the Slovenia national team on 12 February 2003 against Switzerland. He became a fixture of the squad for over a decade. In October 2004, he scored his first international goal during a World Cup qualifier against Italy. This performance was significant as it handed Italy their only defeat during their successful 2006 World Cup campaign.
By November 2014, he reached 81 appearances for his country, surpassing Zlatko Zahovič as the most capped player in Slovenia's history. He reached a major milestone on 8 October 2017 when he earned his 100th cap during a match against Scotland. He eventually retired from international football on 27 March 2018 following a final home match against Belarus. Over his entire career, he represented his country 101 times and played at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Later club career and management
After his spell in England, Boštjan left Marseille in 2009 to join the French club Grenoble. He found the net quickly during his second appearance for the team in a draw against Bordeaux. His career then shifted to Italy when he joined ChievoVerona on a free transfer in July 2010. He showed long-term commitment to the Italian side by signing a new two-year contract in May 2011.
Beyond his active playing days, the former defender transitioned into coaching. In January 2026, he took on the role of manager for the Slovenia national team. This new position leverages his deep experience on the pitch across various European leagues, including his time in Croatia, France, England, and Italy. He now leads the national squad in his capacity as a professional manager.
Birthday and age
Boštjan Cesar was born on July 9, 1982, which makes Boštjan 44 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Boštjan shares the date with 69 other famous people.
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