César Nativi

César Nativi (born April 12, 1962 in Ajaccio ) is a former French football player .

Career

The 178 centimeter tall defender Nativi grew up on the island of Corsica and made the leap into the first team at SEC Bastia, located there, during the 1978/79 season. He came to sporadic missions in the highest French league before he was able to establish himself increasingly in the defense chain in the following season 1979/80 despite his young age of only 17 years. He was one of a number of local talent who broke through at Bastia in the late 1970s. Despite his versatility, through which he could also be called up in midfield , he did not get an undisputed regular place and had to let others go first when the Corsicans prevailed 2-1 in the cup final in 1981 against AS Saint-Étienne . A little later, he first suffered an injury to the pubic bone and then had to struggle with a broken cheekbone , which is why he only played one game during the 1981/82 season. After his recovery he had two well-known competitors in Gérard Bacconnier and then in Alberto Tarantini , who blocked his way back to the first team. There was also the allegation against him of racist insult against a referee who earned him a five-game ban. After his rival Tarantini left the club in 1984, his situation improved and he became an integral part of Bastia's defense. In 1986 he had to accept the relegation of his team and then turned his back on the club.

After leaving Bastia in 1986, he signed with the Alsace- based second division club FC Mulhouse . In this he got a regular place and played with the team for promotion, but failed in both 1987 and 1988 in the relegation round. Because he had lost his regular place due to some new signings, he left the club in 1988 and went back to Bastia. With this he was now mediocre in the second division and was set for most of the time, even if he was again plagued by injuries. When his contract expired in 1991, he decided against staying and found a new employer in the league and local rivals Gazélec FC Ajaccio from southern Corsica. In 1993, he not only witnessed his team's relegation, but also suffered a long-term injury to his left knee. For the then 31-year-old, this meant the end of his professional career after 146 first division games with three goals and 174 second division games with seven goals. Nativi spent a year outside of football trying to cure his knee injury before returning to the field for the 1994/95 season wearing third division AC Ajaccio's shirt . He then stayed in Corsica and decided against further activities in professional sport.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ César Nativi , afterfoot.fr
2. ↑ Football: César Nativi , footballdatabase.eu