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Rui Costa

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For the cyclist, see Rui Costa (cyclist).
Rui Costa
Personal information
Full name Rui Manuel César Costa
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Benfica (Director of football)
Youth career
1977–1990 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1994 Benfica 107 (18)
1990–1991 → Fafe (loan) 38 (6)
1994–2001 Fiorentina 239 (40)
2001–2006 Milan 169 (4)
2006–2008 Benfica 43 (5)
Total 596 (73)
International career
1991 Portugal U20 11 (1)
1992 Portugal U21 5 (1)
1993–2004 Portugal 94 (26)
*Club domestic league appearances and 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. An attacking midfielder also capable of playing as a deep-seated defensive midfielder, he most recently played for Portuguese club Benfica. Renowned for his fine technique and his excellent passing, he's now considered as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. In 2004, he was named by Pelé in FIFA 100, as one of the 125 greatest living football players.

Club career

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

In 1991, after the Under-21 World Cup, which Portugal won after a victorious penalty kick scored by Costa, he returned to Benfica. There, he won the Cup of Portugal in 1993 and the Portuguese First Division title in 1993-94. This would be Benfica's last league title for 11 years.

AC Fiorentina

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 fee 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

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.[1] 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. Though pleased with Kaká's success, he was disappointed to be restricted to the bench in the twilight of his career.


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

On 25 May 2006, Costa's return to Benfica to play for the forthcoming 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.[2] Costa's affection for Benfica is publicly known and so is his desire to end his career at the Portuguese club. On 11 May 2008, Costa played his last game for Benfica against Vitória de Setúbal before announcing his retirement from football.

On the following day, Costa was presented as the new leader of the football department, 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 left-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 solid Benfica team, with such signings as Argentinean striker Javier Saviola, Brazilian centre midfielder Ramires and Spanish defensive midfielder Javi García, along with experienced Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus. This effort was rewarded with Benfica’s victory in the Portuguese League.

International career

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 Estadio 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 World Cup 2002 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

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 Brasil 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

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
26 June 1991 Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal  Australia 1–0 1–0 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship
May 27 1992 France  Scotland 1–0 1–0 Toulon Tournament
May 31 1992 France  Mexico 5–1 Toulon Tournament
May 31 1992 France  Mexico 5–1 Toulon Tournament
May 31 1992 France  Mexico 5–1 Toulon Tournament
15 April 1994 Stade des Costières, Nîmes, France  Spain 2–0 2–0 1994 UEFA Under-21 Championship
1 19 June 1993 Estádio do Bessa, Porto, Portugal  Malta 2–0 4–0 World Cup 1994 Qualifying
2 5 September 1993 Kadrioru Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia  Estonia 0–1 0–2 World Cup 1994 Qualifying
3 7 September 1994 Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland  Northern Ireland 0–1 1–2 Euro 1996 Qualifying
4 15 August 1995 Sportpark Eschen-Mauren, Eschen, Liechtenstein  Liechtenstein 0–3 0–7 Euro 1996 Qualifying
5 15 August 1995 Sportpark Eschen-Mauren, Eschen, Liechtenstein  Liechtenstein 0–6 0–7 Euro 1996 Qualifying
6 15 September 1995 Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal  Republic of Ireland 1–0 3–0 Euro 1996 Qualifying
7 24 January 1996 Parc des Princes, Paris, France  France 1–2 3–2 Friendly
8 9 October 1996 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania  Albania 0–3 0–3 World Cup 1998 Qualifying
9 19 August 1998 Estádio de São Miguel (Ponta Delgada), Ponta Delgada, Portugal  Mozambique 1–0 2–1 Friendly
10 19 August 1998 Estádio de São Miguel (Ponta Delgada), Ponta Delgada, Portugal  Mozambique 2–0 2–1 Friendly
11 6 September 1998 Puskás Ferenc Stadium, Budapest, Hungary  Hungary 1–3 1–3 Euro 2000 Qualifying
12 31 March 1999 Sportpark Eschen-Mauren, Eschen, Liechtenstein  Liechtenstein 0–1 0–5 Euro 2000 Qualifying
13 31 March 1999 Sportpark Eschen-Mauren, Eschen, Liechtenstein  Liechtenstein 0–5 0–5 Euro 2000 Qualifying
14 9 June 1999 Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal  Liechtenstein 7–0 8–0 Euro 2000 Qualifying
15 9 June 1999 Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal  Liechtenstein 8–0 8–0 Euro 2000 Qualifying
16 18 August 1999 Estádio Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal  Andorra 1–0 4–0 Friendly
17 9 October 1999 Estádio da Luz (1954), Lisbon, Portugal  Hungary 1–0 3–0 Euro 2000 Qualifying
18 29 March 2000 Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal  Denmark 1–1 2–1 Friendly
19 16 August 2000 Estádio do Fontelo, Viseu, Portugal  Lithuania 3–1 5–1 Friendly
20 3 September 2000 Kadrioru Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia  Estonia 0–1 1–3 2002 World Cup Qualifying
21 10 June 2002 Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju, South Korea  Poland 4–0 4–0 2002 World Cup
22 16 October 2002 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden  Sweden 2–3 2–3 Friendly
23 11 October 2003 Estádio do Restelo, Lisboa, Portugal  Albania 3–2 5–3 Friendly
24 29 May 2004 Estádio Municipal de Águeda, Águeda, Portugal  Luxembourg 3–0 3–0 Friendly
25 16 June 2004 Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal  Russia 0–2 0–2 Euro 2004
26 24 June 2004 Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal  England 2–1 2–2 Euro 2004

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Honours

Team

Benfica
Fiorentina
AC Milan
National team

Individual

Career statistics

Club Season League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Fafe 1990–91 38 6 0 0 0 0 38 6
Total 38 6 0 0 0 0 38 6
Benfica 1991–92 21 4 3 0 7 0 31 4
1992–93 23 4 4 1 4 0 31 5
1993–94 34 5 3 1 8 4 45 10
Total 78 13 10 2 19 4 107 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 37 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 2 275 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 38 3
2004–05 24 1 4 0 9 0 37 1
2005–06 25 0 3 3 4 0 32 3
Total 124 4 17 4 47 3 188 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 12 675 97

References

  1. ^ "Milan snap up £30m Rui Costa". BBC Sport. 2001-07-03. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  2. ^ Stats: Salaries in Serie A

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