César Plasencia
Encyclopedia
César Plasencia
César Plasencia (born Sacramento, California
is a former U.S. soccer midfielder
who played professionally in both Mexico and the United States. He is the head coach of the Cosumnes River College
women’s soccer team.
. Following graduation from high school, he attended Cosumnes River College
where he played on the men’s soccer team. After two years, he moved to California State University, Sacramento
for a single season. In 1990, he completed his coursework and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication
s. Plasencia played for a variety of local amateur teams including Jalisco and Sacramento United.
where he signed with First Division
club Atlas. In 1989, he returned to the U.S. to play for the expansion Sacramento Senators
of the Western Soccer League
. The Senators folded at the end of the 1989 season and the WSL merged with the east-coast based American Soccer League
(ASL) to form the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). Plasencia moved to Real Santa Barbara
for the 1990 APSL season, but Santa Barbara folded at the end of the season. Plasencia made one more move, to the Salt Lake Sting
, but once again, his team folded at the end of the season and Plasencia retired from playing professionally.
. He spent three years at Cosumnes before moving to California State University, Sacramento
where he was again an assistant coach with the men’s soccer team. However, in 2004, Cosumnes River College
hired Plasencia as the head coach for the women’s soccer team.
In February 2004, California State University, Sacramento
inducted Plasencia into the school's Athletic Honor Roll.
César Plasencia (born Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
is a former U.S. soccer midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who played professionally in both Mexico and the United States. He is the head coach of the Cosumnes River College
Cosumnes River College
Cosumnes River College is a two-year community college located at the southern edge of Sacramento in Sacramento County, California.The college is part of the Los Rios Community College District and was opened in 1970. Current enrollment is 13,500 students at its main campus...
women’s soccer team.
Youth and college
Plasencia grew up in Sacramento, California and attended Christian Brothers High SchoolChristian Brothers High School (Sacramento, California)
Christian Brothers High School High School is a private, Roman Catholic, college-preparatory high school in Sacramento, California. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento.-Background:...
. Following graduation from high school, he attended Cosumnes River College
Cosumnes River College
Cosumnes River College is a two-year community college located at the southern edge of Sacramento in Sacramento County, California.The college is part of the Los Rios Community College District and was opened in 1970. Current enrollment is 13,500 students at its main campus...
where he played on the men’s soccer team. After two years, he moved to California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...
for a single season. In 1990, he completed his coursework and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
s. Plasencia played for a variety of local amateur teams including Jalisco and Sacramento United.
Playing career
In 1986, he moved to MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
where he signed with First Division
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
club Atlas. In 1989, he returned to the U.S. to play for the expansion Sacramento Senators
Sacramento Senators (soccer)
The Sacramento Senators are a defunct U.S. soccer team which spent a single season in the Western Soccer League in 1989. The Senators played in Sacramento, California.Carlos Azevedo, a defender,was later entered into the Sacramento Hall of Fame in 1989....
of the Western Soccer League
Western Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
. The Senators folded at the end of the 1989 season and the WSL merged with the east-coast based American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
(ASL) to form the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
(APSL). Plasencia moved to Real Santa Barbara
Real Santa Barbara
Real Santa Barbara was a former football team. The name real, meaning royal, came from the Spanish teams , just like current MLS club Real Salt Lake. The club played in the city of Santa Barbara, California...
for the 1990 APSL season, but Santa Barbara folded at the end of the season. Plasencia made one more move, to the Salt Lake Sting
Salt Lake Sting
The Salt Lake Sting was a professional soccer team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They played in the American Professional Soccer League. The franchise lasted two seasons, but financial concerns caused the team's ownership to shut the franchise down on July 5, 1991...
, but once again, his team folded at the end of the season and Plasencia retired from playing professionally.
Coaching career
In 1993, Plasencia was hired as an assistant coach for the men’s soccer team at Cosumnes River CollegeCosumnes River College
Cosumnes River College is a two-year community college located at the southern edge of Sacramento in Sacramento County, California.The college is part of the Los Rios Community College District and was opened in 1970. Current enrollment is 13,500 students at its main campus...
. He spent three years at Cosumnes before moving to California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...
where he was again an assistant coach with the men’s soccer team. However, in 2004, Cosumnes River College
Cosumnes River College
Cosumnes River College is a two-year community college located at the southern edge of Sacramento in Sacramento County, California.The college is part of the Los Rios Community College District and was opened in 1970. Current enrollment is 13,500 students at its main campus...
hired Plasencia as the head coach for the women’s soccer team.
In February 2004, California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...
inducted Plasencia into the school's Athletic Honor Roll.