Rui Costa

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For the cyclist, see Rui Costa (cyclist).
This name uses Portuguese naming customs. The first or maternal family name is César and the second or paternal family name is Costa.
Rui Costa
Rui Costa.jpg
Rui Costa with Benfica in 2007
Personal information
Full name Rui Manuel César Costa
Date of birth (1972-03-29) 29 March 1972 (age 41)
Place of birth Amadora, Portugal
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Benfica (Director of football)
Youth career
1977–1990 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1990–1994 Benfica 78 (13)
1990–1991 → Fafe (loan) 38 (6)
1994–2001 Fiorentina 215 (38)
2001–2006 Milan 124 (4)
2006–2008 Benfica 43 (5)
Total 498 (66)
National team
1991 Portugal U20 11 (1)
1992–1994 Portugal U21 20 (7)
1993–2004 Portugal 94 (26)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Rui Manuel César Costa, OIH (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʁuj ˈkɔʃtɐ]; born 29 March 1972) is a former Portuguese football player and current Director of Football for Sport Lisboa e Benfica.

Costa played as an attacking midfielder but was also capable of playing as a deep-lying playmaker, and was renowned for his fine technique, great vision and excellent passing, and is now regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100, as one of the 125 greatest living football players.

Nicknamed "the Maestro", Costa spent the majority of his career with Benfica in Portugal and Fiorentina and A.C. Milan in Italy. In a top-flight career spanning 17 years, he won several trophies including one Primeira Liga title, one Portuguese Cup, one Serie A title, three Italian Cups, one UEFA Champions League title and one UEFA Super Cup. A Portuguese international, Costa amassed 94 caps and scored 26 goals for a selecção and represented the country in three UEFA European Championships and one FIFA World Cup.

Club career[edit source | edit]

Benfica[edit source | edit]

At the age of five, Costa joined the infant indoor football team of Damaia Ginásio Clube. Costa tried his luck at Benfica. Within ten minutes of training, Portugal legend Eusébio, who was supervising the youngsters, was impressed with Costas' skills. Up until 1990, Costa played for Benfica's youth squads. In his first full season he was loaned to A.D. Fafe on a season long deal.[1]

In 1991, after the Under-21 World Cup, which Portugal won after a penalty kick scored by Costa, he returned to Benfica. In his first full season with Benfica, he was featured regularly in Benfica's team. In his next two seasons, his role in the team would prove to be pivotal as Benfica captured two trophies. He formed a formidable midfield partnership with João Vieira Pinto. During his last two seasons with Benfica in his first spell with the club, he won the Cup of Portugal in 1993 and the Portuguese First Division title in 1993–94.[2][3] This would be Benfica's last league title for 11 years.[4]

AC Fiorentina[edit source | edit]

At the end of his third season in Benfica's senior squad, Fiorentina offered 1200 million escudos (about €6 million) for the young midfielder, an impressive salary at the time. Since Benfica was struggling with financial problems, Rui Costa had to leave.

Despite the heavy competition with the best midfielders in that time such as Zinedine Zidane, Costa was named the best number 10 player in the Serie A a few times. His departure from Fiorentina was discussed every season, since many clubs constantly showed interest in signing him. However, he only left when Fiorentina went bankrupt after the 2001–02 season.

AC Milan[edit source | edit]

Fatih Terim was the coach of Fiorentina in the 2000–01 season. When he was leaving Fiorentina for Milan, he took Costa with him, paying a reported £30 million for the player.[5] In doing so, Costa became Milan's most expensive transfer of all-time. Costa played five seasons in Milan, where he won one Serie A title, one Italian Cup, one Italian Super Cup, one UEFA Champions League, and one European Super Cup.

In 2003, Brazilian youngster Kaká joined the ranks at Milan and relegated Costa to the bench.

In 2004, Costa played his last match for the Portuguese squad at the UEFA Euro 2004 final, when Portugal lost to underdogs Greece 1–0 in what was considered a titanic upset.

Benfica[edit source | edit]

On 25 May 2006, Costa's return to Benfica to play in the upcoming season was announced in a press conference. He had been released from Milan after both the player and the club reached an agreement to end his contract. Costa also gave up his €4.6 million per year contract to play in the club that, year after year, had dreamt of his return.[6][7][8] His return saw former Benfica and Portugal international Eusébio praise Costa's return.[9] Costa's first game back saw him start in a 2006–07 UEFA Champions League qualifier against FK Austria Wien in August 2006.[10] The return leg saw Costa score in his return to the Estádio da Luz on twenty one minutes. Benfica would go on to win 3–0 and clinch a place in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.[11][12][13]

Following the start of the season, Costa would suffer a serious injury which would keep him out of action for three months.[14] Costa returned in January 2007, in a Taça de Portugal fourth round tie against Oliveira do Bairro S.C..[15][16] Following his return, he was used as a regular in Benfica's starting eleven under Fernando Santos. His first season would see Benfica finish behind FC Porto and Sporting CP in the Primeira Liga. In other competitions that Benfica participated in, they would be eliminated in the round of 16 in the Taça de Portugal and bow out of the UEFA Cup against RCD Espanyol.

Prior to start of the 2007–08 Primeira Liga, Costa would announce that the 2007–08 season would be his last as a professional. Despite the sacking of Fernando Santos at the beginning of the league campaign, Costa would remain a first team regular under José Antonio Camacho. The first game of the season saw Costa be decisive in Benfica reaching the Champions League group stage. He scored two goals in a qualifier against F.C. Copenhagen in the first leg.[17] He would also play an important part in the second leg where Benfica defeated the Danish side 1–0 away from home to seal Benfica's third consecutive presence in the group stage.[18]

Costa would score his first league goal since his return to Benfica against C.D. Nacional in September 2007.[19] His displays in the league would earn him the SJPF Player of the Month award for September 2007. Following qualification to the group stage, Benfica was drawn against Costa's former club AC Milan. The inaugural game of the group stage in September 2007 saw Benfica take on the Rossoneri at the San Siro where the Milan outfit defeated Benfica 2–1.[20] The return fixture on match day five, would see Milan visit the Estádio da Luz where both teams left the game with a point following a 1–1 draw.[21] Benfica would exit the competition in third place behind Milan and Celtic F.C. were they directly entered into knockout stages of the UEFA Cup.

In the new year, Benfica dropped various points along there campaign to Académica, Braga, Porto, Sporting and União de Leiria which effectively dropped them out of the title race. There failure to compete for the title resulted in Benfica setting there priorities to capture third place which secured a UEFA Champions League qualification. Benfica would fail to capture third place which would go to newly promoted Vitória de Guimarães. Benfica would also drop out of the Round of 16 of the UEFA Cup to Spanish side Getafe CF. Under Costa's captaincy, Benfica would also fall short in the 2007–08 Taça de Portugal were they lost to Sporting in the semi-finals despite Costa scoring in a game which ended 5–3.[22] Costa played his last game on 11 May 2008 at the Estádio da Luz against Vitória de Setúbal. He was substituted in the 86th minute to a standing ovation from the spectators.[23] Rui Costa would go down in history as one of the most underrated players of that generation, and was seen as a role model due to his cool temperament.

International career[edit source | edit]

Rui Costa was a member of Portugal's most consistent years at senior level as the team reached the quarter-finals of Euro 1996, the semi-finals of Euro 2000, and the final of Euro 2004.

Costa was especially instrumental in helping Portugal reach the 2004 final on home soil, scoring a screamer of a goal at his beloved Estádio da Luz against England in the quarter-final match, and the sight of a distraught Rui Costa at the end of the heartbreaking 1–0 defeat to Greece is one of the enduring images of the tournament.

Costa also took part in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea scoring Portugal's winning goal in their 4–0 win over Poland. The only time in his career that Costa was sent off was in an international game against Germany.

Despite being principally a provider, Costa chipped in with a highly impressive 26 goals in 94 games.

Golden Generation[edit source | edit]

In the summer of 1991 his displays at Fafe had impressed Portugal Under-21 coach Carlos Queiroz so much that he was called up to the team to represent Portugal in the World Youth Cup. The Portuguese under-20 national team won a World Youth Championship in 1991. His clinching penalty kick against Brazil in the final helped win the title on home soil and announced Costa as one of the brightest members of what would become known as the “Golden Generation.”

With their success at youth level, much was expected of the Portuguese national team at senior level. However, they did not win a major international tournament at senior level. Despite not winning any major international titles, they managed to bring Portugal to their finest moments since the days of the legendary Eusébio in the 1960s.

International goals[edit source | edit]

Director career[edit source | edit]

On the following day after his final professional game, Costa was presented as the new director of football, hiring Quique Sánchez Flores as the new manager of Benfica and being responsible for the formation of the team in the next season.

During the 2008 Summer transfer window, Costa was able – already as Director of Football – to sign a few well-known players, such as Argentine playmaker Pablo Aimar and bringing in Spanish winger José Antonio Reyes and Honduran striker David Suazo in on loan, thus gaining general praise from both board and fans alike.

On the following Summer, Costa further increased his efforts to build a more strengthened Benfica team following a disappointing league campaign in the previous season.

He would make several high profile signings such as Argentinean striker Javier Saviola, Brazilian attacking midfielder Ramires and Spanish defensive midfielder Javi García, along with experienced Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus.[24][25][26][27] His major signings would prove to be successful as Benfica would win the Primeira Liga in the 2009–10 season for the first time in five years. Benfica would also win the Taça da Liga in the same season defeating rivals FC Porto in the final.

Career statistics[edit source | edit]

[28]

Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Fafe 1990–91 38 6 0 0 – – 38 6
Total 38 6 0 0 – – 38 6
Benfica 1991–92 21 4 3 0 7 0 1 0 32 4
1992–93 23 4 4 1 4 0 1 0 32 5
1993–94 34 5 3 1 8 4 2 0 47 10
Total 78 13 10 2 19 4 4 0 111 19
Fiorentina 1994–95 31 9 4 0 – – 35 9
1995–96 34 4 7 2 – – 41 6
1996–97 28 2 1 0 8 0 1 0 38 2
1997–98 32 3 5 2 – – 37 5
1998–99 31 10 7 4 1 0 – 39 14
1999–00 30 4 4 0 14 2 – 48 6
2000–01 29 6 7 2 2 0 – 38 8
Total 215 38 35 10 25 2 1 0 276 50
Milan 2001–02 22 0 1 0 10 3 – 33 3
2002–03 25 0 5 1 18 0 – 48 1
2003–04 28 3 4 0 6 0 3 0 41 3
2004–05 24 1 4 0 9 0 1 0 38 1
2005–06 25 0 3 3 4 0 – 32 3
Total 124 4 17 4 47 3 4 0 192 11
Benfica 2006–07 14 0 3 0 5 1 – 22 1
2007–08 29 5 4 3 12 2 – 45 10
Total 43 5 7 3 17 3 – 67 11
Career Total 498 66 69 19 108 12 9 0 684 97

Honours[edit source | edit]

Benfica
Fiorentina
Milan
Portugal

Individual[edit source | edit]

References[edit source | edit]

  1. ^ "Associação Desportiva de Fafe". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). 15 December 2012. 
  2. ^ "Campeonato Nacional da I Divisão 1993/94". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). 15 December 2012. 
  3. ^ "Taça de Portugal 1992/1993". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). 15 December 2012. 
  4. ^ "SuperLiga 2004/2005". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). 15 December 2012. 
  5. ^ "Milan snap up £30m Rui Costa". BBC Sport. 3 July 2001. Retrieved 31 March 2010. 
  6. ^ Stats: Salaries in Serie A
  7. ^ "Rui Costa abdica de 700 mil contos/ano" [Rui Costa abdicates 700 thousand contos per year]. Record (in Portuguese). 27 May 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  8. ^ "Rui Costa assina hoje" [Rui Costa signs today]. Record (in Portuguese). 25 May 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  9. ^ "Eusébio radiante com regresso de Rui Costa" [Eusébio radiant over return of Rui Costa]. Record (in Portuguese). 26 May 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  10. ^ "Austria Wien 1–1 Benfica". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). 22 August 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  11. ^ "Benfica 3–0 Austria Wien". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  12. ^ "BENFICA-AUSTRIA VIENA, 3–0 (Rui Costa 21, Nuno Gomes 45+2, Petit 57)". Record (in Portuguese). 22 August 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  13. ^ "Foi preciso esperar 12 anos" [It was needed 12 years]. Record (in Portuguese). 23 August 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  14. ^ "Departamento médico confirma paragem de Rui Costa" [Medical Departament doctor confirms Rui Costa's stop]. Record (in Portuguese). 3 October 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  15. ^ "Benfica 5–0 Oliv. Bairro". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  16. ^ "Maestro regressou na festa do futebol" [Maestro returned in the football party]. Record (in Portuguese). 7 January 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  17. ^ "Benfica 2–1 FC København". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  18. ^ "FC København 0–1 Benfica". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  19. ^ "Nacional 0–3 Benfica". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  20. ^ "Milan 2–1 Benfica". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  21. ^ "Benfica 1–1 Milan". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  22. ^ "Sporting 5–3 Benfica". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  23. ^ "Benfica 3–0 V. Setúbal". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 December 2012. 
  24. ^ "Saviola : "Venho para ser campeão"" [Saviola : "I am here to be champion"]. Record (in Portuguese). 28 June 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2012. 
  25. ^ "Cruzeiro confirma venda de Ramires para o Benfica". Estadão. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009.  (Portuguese)
  26. ^ "Chegou o dia de Javi" [It has arrived the day of Javi]. Record (in Portuguese). 20 July 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2012. 
  27. ^ "Benfica confirma Jesus para duas épocas" [Benfica confirms Jesus for two seasons]. Record (in Portuguese). 16 June 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2012. 
  28. ^ "Matches in European Cups". RSSSF. Retrieved 8 July 2012.

External links[edit source | edit]

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