Rui Costa

Lore & Background

At age five, Costa joined the infant indoor football team of Damaia Ginásio Clube. He tried his luck at Benfica. Within ten minutes of training, Portugal legend Eusébio, who was supervising the youngsters, was impressed with Costa's skills. Up until 1990, Costa played for Benfica's youth squads. In his first full season, he was loaned to Fafe on a season-long deal. 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 Taça de Portugal in 1993 and the Portuguese First Division title in 1993–94. At the end of his third season in Benfica's senior squad, Fiorentina offered for the 21-year-old midfielder. His departure from Fiorentina was discussed every season, since many clubs constantly showed interest in signing him. However, he only left Fiorentina one season before their bankruptcy in the 2001–02 season. With the Florentine club, Costa won the Coppa Italia twice, also winning a Supercoppa Italiana. In June 2001, Fiorentina agreed to sell both Costa and Francesco Toldo to Parma for 140 billion lire. Despite both players' refusal to join, Costa and Toldo were sold to AC Milan and Inter Milan, respectively, for the same total transfer fee. Fatih Terim was the coach of Fiorentina in the 2000–01 season. When he was leaving Fiorentina for AC Milan, he took Costa with him, paying 85 billion lire (€43,898,836) for the player. In so doing, Costa became Milan's most expensive transfer of all time. On 27 September 2001, Costa scored his first goal for Milan to open a 4–0 home win (6–0 aggregate) in the first round of the UEFA Cup against BATE Borisov. He added further goals in wins over CSKA Sofia (second round) and Hapoel Tel Aviv (quarter-finals) in a run to the last four. He was hampered by injuries throughout the whole season, including a wrist injury on his debut, while his form was inconsistent. Playing away at Fiorentina, he greeted his former club's fans in tears, which led to an angry reaction when he returned to Milan.

Reader's Guide

Rui Costa is a retired Portuguese attacking midfielder, known for his technique and playmaking. He began his senior career at Benfica, was loaned to Fafe, then returned to Benfica before moving to Fiorentina at the end of his third senior season. He played for Fiorentina until 2001, winning two Coppa Italia and a Supercoppa Italiana. He then transferred to AC Milan for a then-club-record fee, winning a Serie A title, Coppa Italia, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Super Cup. He returned to Benfica in 2006 and retired in 2008. Internationally, he earned 94 caps and scored 26 goals for Portugal, playing in three European Championships and one World Cup.

Did You Know?

• He was sent off in a 1998 World Cup qualifier against Germany for leaving the pitch too slowly.
• He assisted three goals in a 4–0 Champions League win over Deportivo de La Coruña in 2002.