Costinha
Costinha in 2012
Personal information
Full name Francisco José Rodrigues da Costa[1]
Date of birth (1974-12-01) 1 December 1974 (age 49)[1]
Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal[1]
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1987–1993 Oriental
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1995 Oriental 32 (3)
1995–1996 Machico 30 (5)
1996–1997 Nacional 30 (4)
1997–2001 Monaco 84 (3)
2001–2005 Porto 109 (13)
2005–2006 Dynamo Moscow 10 (0)
2006–2007 Atlético Madrid 24 (0)
2007–2010 Atalanta 1 (0)
Total 320 (28)
International career
1998–2006 Portugal 53 (2)
Managerial career
2013 Beira-Mar
2013 Paços Ferreira
2016–2017 Académica
2017–2019 Nacional
2021 Nacional
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
UEFA European Championship
Runner-up 2004 Portugal
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Belgium-Netherlands
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Francisco José Rodrigues da Costa OIH (born 1 December 1974), known as Costinha (Portuguese pronunciation: [kɔʃˈtiɲɐ]), is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, currently a manager.

Best known for his tackling and positioning,[2] as well as his athleticism, stamina and workrate,[3] he played for clubs in Portugal, France, Russia, Spain and Italy. He won eight trophies with Porto, including the 2004 Champions League.

Costinha played more than 50 times with Portugal, appearing with the national team in one World Cup and two European Championships and being part of the squad that reached the final in Euro 2004. After retiring, he worked as a manager for Beira-Mar, Paços Ferreira, Académica and Nacional.

Club career

Costinha was born in Lisbon to an Angolan father, who had immigrated to the Portuguese capital in the 1960s.[4] In the summer of 1997, after four years in the third division, he caught the interest of French club AS Monaco FC who signed him from C.D. Nacional.[5] After a tentative first season he became an important first-team member, helping with 28 matches and one goal to the 1999–2000 conquest of the Ligue 1 championship;[6][7] he was part of a talented side which ousted Manchester United from the UEFA Champions League in 1998, on the away goals rule.[8]

Aged almost 27, Costinha made his Primeira Liga debut when he joined FC Porto in 2001, going on to be an instrumental midfield element in the northerners' two consecutive national championships.[9] On 9 March 2004, he scored against and effectively knocked out Manchester United in the Champions League first knockout round;[2] Porto went on to win the title, beating his former side Monaco 3–0 in the final.[10]

Again a starter throughout most of the 2004–05 campaign, Costinha was sold to FC Dynamo Moscow in May 2005 for €4 million alongside teammates Maniche and Giourkas Seitaridis, following Derlei, who left in January.[11] Unsettled, he moved to Atlético Madrid ahead of 2006–07.[12]

Costinha was released by the Spaniards in August 2007, joining Serie A's Atalanta BC,[13] where he appeared very rarely throughout his spell – only one match, in his first season – due to serious injuries and later because he was not considered fit to play competitively, despite him having the highest salary in the first team (€700,000 per year, in a contract due to expire in June 2010). The club tried to agree a mutual termination of the contract with him, and also attempted unsuccessfully to rescind it through the Italian Football League.[3]

International career

Costinha made his debut for Portugal on 14 October 1998, in a 3–0 home win against Slovakia for the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifiers. He was selected for the final stages, where he scored an injury time header against Romania (same score).[14]

He also played at Euro 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup tournaments. During the latter, on 25 June, he took part in the Battle of Nuremberg, being one of four players sent off in the 1–0 round-of-16 victory over the Netherlands after two bookable offences, the second being a handball.[15]

Costinha finished his international career with 53 caps and two goals, having been rarely called during the Euro 2008 qualifying stage.[16]

Coaching career

On 23 February 2010, the 35-year-old Costinha left Atalanta by mutual consent.[17] He immediately retired, being named shortly afterwards as Sporting CP's director of football, succeeding the sacked Ricardo Sá Pinto, his former international teammate. On 9 February 2011, the day after an interview to Sport TV in which he criticised the club's board of directors, he was dismissed.[18]

In June 2011, in the same capacity, Costinha joined Servette FC, with the Swiss team being managed by countryman João Alves.[19] It was reported that the pair did not see eye to eye on certain issues, and in November 2011, Alves was relieved of his duties and replaced by João Carlos Pereira.[20] The team's results worsened under Peireira and in April 2012, both Pereira and Costinha were fired, with Alves being reinstated as manager;[21] Costinha reportedly contested the terms of his removal, claiming that his contract extended until June 2013.[22]

Costinha was hired as manager of S.C. Beira-Mar on 18 February 2013, replacing Ulisses Morais.[23] He left the club on 22 May, after its top-flight relegation.[24]

On 12 June 2013, Costinha was appointed at fellow league team F.C. Paços de Ferreira, who had made the qualifying rounds of the Champions League for the first time in its history; his midfield partner for Portugal and three clubs, Maniche, was hired as assistant.[25] Costinha was sacked after only four months, however, due to poor results.[26]

On 20 June 2016, Costinha took over at Académica de Coimbra, recently relegated from the top division.[27] Maniche again assisted him, until leaving for personal reasons in October.[28]

On 30 May 2017, Costinha was appointed as manager of C.D. Nacional.[29] In his first year, they were promoted back to the top tier as champions.[30]

Costinha left a year later by mutual consent, due to the Madeira team's relegation as second-bottom.[31] Negative highlights included a 10–0 loss against eventual champions S.L. Benfica, on 10 February 2019.[32]

Costinha returned to Nacional – again relegated from the main division – on 28 June 2021, on a one-year deal.[33] He left on 20 September, having achieved a win and a draw in five games.[34]

Career statistics

Club

Sources:[35][36]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Monaco 1997–98 Ligue 1 11 0
1998–99 21 2
1999–00 28 1
2000–01 24 0
Total 94 3
Porto 2001–02 Primeira Liga 29 3
2002–03 23 5
2003–04 27 2
2004–05 30 3
Portugal 109 13
Dynamo Moscow 2005 Russian Premier League 10 0
Atlético Madrid 2006–07 La Liga 24 0
Atalanta 2007–08 Serie A 1 0 0 0 - - - - 1 0
2008–09 0 0 0 0 - - - - 0 0
2009–10 0 0 0 0 - - - - 0 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Career total 238 16

International

Source:[37]
Portugal
Year Apps Goals
1998 1 0
1999 0 0
2000 8 1
2001 1 0
2002 2 1
2003 8 0
2004 15 0
2005 6 0
2006 12 0
Total 53 2
Costinha: International goals
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition[38][14]
1 17 June 2000 GelreDome, Arnhem, Netherlands  Romania 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 2000
2 7 September 2002 Villa Park, Birmingham, England  England 1–1 1–1 Friendly

Managerial statistics

As of 16 May 2019[39][40]
Team From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Beira-Mar 2013 2013 11 2 2 7 12 18 −6 018.18
Paços Ferreira 2013 2013 14 2 2 10 15 31 −16 014.29
Académica 2016 2017 48 20 13 15 48 38 +10 041.67
Nacional 2017 2019 81 29 22 30 123 140 −17 035.80
Career totals 154 53 62 39 198 227 −29 034.42

Honours

Player

Monaco[40]

Porto[40]

Portugal

Manager

Nacional

Orders

References

  1. ^ a b c "Costinha" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b O'Shea, Fergus (23 March 2004). "Costinha carrying the fight". UEFA. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  3. ^ a b Pelucchi, Roberto (10 January 2009). "Offresi Costinha disperatamente | Atalanta stufa dell' amico di Mou" [Costinha desperately for sale | Atalanta are fed up with Mou's friend]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  4. ^ Assor, Miriam (9 July 2006). "O pai do nosso Costinha" [The father of our Costinha]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Costinha: o início da carreira, as mulheres lindas no Mónaco e o 'não' de Valdano" [Costinha: career beginnings, beautiful women in Monaco and 'no' from Valdano] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  6. ^ Bregevin, Vincent (14 April 2020). "15 avril 2000: Monaco rêvait d'un long règne, il n'a eu qu'une courte épopée" [15 avril 2000: Monaco were dreaming of long kingdom, they did not manage more than short epic] (in French). Eurosport. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club" (in French). Pari et Gagne. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  8. ^ Moore, Glenn (19 March 1998). "Monaco and bust for sorry United". The Independent. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  9. ^ Pires, Bruno (19 May 2017). "Quando Mourinho quis dispensar Costinha do FC Porto" [When Mourinho wanted to release Costinha from FC Porto]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Porto 3–0 Monaco". BBC Sport. 26 May 2004. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Porto pair move to Moscow". UEFA. 12 May 2005. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  12. ^ "Costinha aims high with Atlético". UEFA. 10 August 2006. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  13. ^ "Costinha off to Atalanta". UEFA. 24 August 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  14. ^ a b "Portugal leave it late to see off Romania". UEFA. 6 October 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Portugal 1–0 Holland". BBC Sport. 25 June 2006. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  16. ^ "Costinha celebra 45º aniversário" [Costinha celebrates 45th birthday] (in Portuguese). Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Atalanta e Costinha – Rescissione consensuale" [Atalanta and Costinha – Mutual termination] (in Italian). Atalanta B.C. 23 February 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  18. ^ Kundert, Tom (9 February 2011). "Sporting sack Costinha". PortuGOAL. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  19. ^ "Costinha nommé Directeur Sportif du Servette FC" [Costinha named Servette FC director of football] (in French). Servette FC. 14 June 2011. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  20. ^ Aeschmann, Mathieu (30 December 2011). "Costinha, bourreau d'Alves" [Costinha, Alves' executioner]. Le Matin (in French). Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  21. ^ "Costinha encore viré, João Alves de retour!" [Costinha fired once again, João Alves returns!] (in French). Ma Chaine Sport. 25 April 2012. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  22. ^ "Servette FC vers la victoire" [Servette FC on the road to victory] (in French). GHI. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  23. ^ "Costinha é o novo treinador do Beira-Mar" [Costinha is the new manager of Beira-Mar]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 18 February 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  24. ^ ""Não vou continuar no Beira-Mar" – Costinha" ["I will not stay with Beira-Mar" – Costinha]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 22 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  25. ^ "Costinha succeeds Fonseca at Paços de Ferreira". UEFA. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  26. ^ "Football: Pacos de Ferreira sack coach Costinha". GlobalPost. 29 October 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  27. ^ "Costinha é o novo treinador da Académica" [Costinha is the new manager of Académica] (in Portuguese). Académica Coimbra. 20 June 2016. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  28. ^ Pedrosa Marques, Eduardo (6 October 2016). "Maniche rescindiu" [Maniche cut ties]. A Bola (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  29. ^ "Oficial: Costinha é o novo treinador do Nacional da Madeira" [Official: Costinha is the new manager of Nacional da Madeira] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  30. ^ a b "Nacional campeão: festa rija e Costinha em ombros" [Nacional champions: partying hard and Costinha is carried out shoulder-high]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 6 May 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  31. ^ "Nacional confirma saída de Costinha" [Nacional confirm Costinha's exit]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  32. ^ Miroto Simões, Luís (10 February 2019). "Costinha: "10–0 é uma humilhação e o responsável sou eu"" [Costinha: "10–0 is an humiliation and I'm the one to blame"]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  33. ^ "Oficial: Costinha regressa ao comando técnico do Nacional" [Official: Costinha back at the helm of Nacional]. Record (in Portuguese). 28 June 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  34. ^ Fernandes, João Manuel (20 September 2021). "Costinha deixa Nacional" [Costinha leaves Nacional]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  35. ^ Costinha at ForaDeJogo (archived) Edit this at Wikidata
  36. ^ "Costinha". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  37. ^ "Costinha". European Football. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  38. ^ "Portugal hold England". BBC Sport. 7 September 2002. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  39. ^ "Costinha". Zerozero. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  40. ^ a b c d Costinha coach profile at Soccerway
  41. ^ Szreter, Adam (26 May 2004). "Porto perform to perfection". UEFA. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  42. ^ "Uefa Cup final player ratings". BBC Sport. 21 May 2003. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  43. ^ "Selecção distinguida pelo Duque de Bragança" [National team honoured by Duke of Bragança] (in Portuguese). Cristiano Ronaldo News. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2006.

External links

Portugal squads
Managerial positions
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