Paulo Costinha

Not to be confused with Costinha.

Paulo Costinha
Personal information
Full name Paulo Rebelo Costinha Castro
Date of birth (1973-09-22) 22 September 1973 (age 50)[1]
Place of birth Braga, Portugal[1]
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1984–1988 Braga
1988–1992 Boavista
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1993 Boavista 0 (0)
1993–1997 Sporting CP 76 (0)
1997–1999 Porto 2 (0)
1999–2000 Tenerife 9 (0)
2000–2006 União Leiria 118 (0)
2006–2009 Belenenses 33 (0)
Total 238 (0)
International career
1993 Portugal U20 5 (0)
1993–1995 Portugal U21 15 (0)
1996 Portugal U23 4 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Runner-up 1994 France
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paulo Rebelo Costinha Castro (born 22 September 1973), known as Costinha, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He appeared in 229 Primeira Liga matches in 16 seasons, mainly with União de Leiria (six years) and Sporting CP (four).

Club career

Costinha was born in Braga. A product of Boavista FC's youth system,[2] he went on to represent Primeira Liga clubs FC Porto and Sporting CP – being mostly a backup[3]– as well as U.D. Leiria, where he established himself in the top flight.[4][5]

After a short abroad stint with Spain's CD Tenerife, appearing rarely for the Segunda División team,[6] Costinha joined C.F. Os Belenenses from Leiria for the 2006–07 season. He only was a starter in his first year as he lost his position after the January 2007 arrival of Brazilian Júlio César,[7][8] being definitely released in the summer of 2009 without any further league appearances and retiring shortly after, aged 35.[3]

International career

Costinha represented Portugal at the 1996 Summer Olympics, playing three matches out of six as the national side finished in fourth place.[9] Previously, he appeared in all the games at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship in Australia, with the under-20s losing all three group-stage fixtures (five goals conceded).[10]

Post-retirement

After retiring, Costinha settled in Leiria were he opened a tobacco shop. He also worked as a player agent and in a football academy.[11][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Paulo Costinha". Eurosport. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b Pires, Bruno (30 April 2017). "Deu nega ao país dos cangurus em prol do sonho da Academia" [He rejected land of kangaroos for the sake of dream of Academy]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b "30 atletas que jogaram nos dois lados do Clássico" [30 athletes who played on both sides of the Classic] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  4. ^ "U. Leiria contrata Costinha e Tiago por três temporadas" [U. Leiria sign Costinha and Tiago for three seasons]. Record (in Portuguese). 10 June 2000. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  5. ^ ""Se jogasse sempre assim Costinha voltava a um grande", diz treinador do Gil Vicente" ["If he always played like this Costinha would return to one of the greats", says Gil Vicente manager] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 22 April 2001. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Roberto, a un partido del mejor debut de un portero del Tenerife en Segunda" [Roberto, one match away from making best debut of a Tenerife goalkeeper in Segunda]. El Día (in Spanish). 10 December 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Belenenses: Cândido Costa e Evandro de regresso, Costinha de fora" [Belenenses: Cândido Costa and Evandro return, Costinha out] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 6 April 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Costinha: "Ninguém gosta de ficar de fora"" [Costinha: "Nobody likes to be left out"]. Record (in Portuguese). 6 November 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Portugal-Brasil: o pesadelo das Olimpíadas de 96 segundo Ronaldo e Bebeto" [Portugal-Brazil: the nightmare of the 96 Olympics according to Ronaldo and Bebeto] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 27 March 2003. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  10. ^ Roseiro, Bruno (20 May 2017). "Portugal no Mundial Sub-20: quem, quando e onde? Um guia para a competição" [Portugal at the Under-20 World Cup: who, when and where? A guide for the competition]. Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Costinha está entre os patrocinadores" [Costinha among the sponsors]. Record (in Portuguese). 12 April 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2023.

External links