Hugo Costa
FullnameHugo Alexandre Esteves Costa[1]
Birth date4 November 1973 (age 52)[1]
Birth placeTramagal, Portugal
Height1.84 m
PositionCentre-back
Youthyears 11984–1992
Youthclubs 1Benfica
Years 11992–1993
Clubs 1Gil Vicente
Caps 124
Goals 12
Years 21993–1995
Clubs 2Beira-Mar
Caps 250
Goals 21
Years 31995–1996
Clubs 3Estrela Amadora
Caps 310
Goals 30
Years 41996
Clubs 4Stoke City
Caps 42
Goals 40
Years 51996–2001
Clubs 5Alverca
Caps 5103
Goals 52
Years 62001–2003
Clubs 6Vitória Setúbal
Caps 656
Goals 62
Years 72003–2005
Clubs 7Rot-Weiß Oberhausen
Caps 734
Goals 70
Years 82006–2008
Clubs 8União Leiria
Caps 816
Goals 81
Years 92008–2009
Clubs 9Atromitos Yeroskipou
Caps 96
Goals 91
Years 102009–2011
Clubs 10Pinhalnovense
Caps 1038
Goals 100
Totalcaps339
Totalgoals9
Nationalyears 11995–1996
Nationalteam 1Portugal U21
Nationalcaps 18
Nationalgoals 11

Hugo Alexandre Esteves Costa (born 4 November 1973) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Club career

Costa was born in Tramagal, Santarém District. A graduate of S.L. Benfica's youth system, he never appeared however for its first team, going on to spend the following four seasons in the Primeira Liga with Gil Vicente FC, S.C. Beira-Mar and C.F. Estrela da Amadora, being relegated with the second club in 1994–95.[2]

In summer 1996, Costa signed with Stoke City of the English Football League Second Division.[3] He left the Potters after only a couple of weeks and games,[4] returning to his country with F.C. Alverca and remaining five seasons with the Lisbon outskirts side, three spent in the top flight.[5][6]

From 2001 to 2003, also as first choice and in the main division, Costa played with Vitória de Setúbal.[7] Subsequently, he joined Germany's Rot-Weiß Oberhausen (2. Bundesliga),[8] staying two years in the country and suffering relegation in his second.[9]

Costa returned to Portugal midway through the 2005–06 campaign and signed a six-month contract with U.D. Leiria,[10] playing only 16 matches in the top tier over a three-year spell; 12 of those came in 2007–08, with the team ranking 16th and last.[11] Afterwards, the 34-year-old moved to Cyprus with Atromitos Yeroskipou.[2]

One year later, Costa once again returned to his homeland, agreeing to a deal at lowly C.D. Pinhalnovense. He left in 2011 aged nearly 38 and retired shortly after, subsequently working as a manager in amateur football.[2]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[12][13]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Gil Vicente1992–93Primeira Liga242000000242
Beira-Mar1993–94Primeira Liga240000000240
1994–95Primeira Liga261000000261
Total501000000501
Estrela Amadora1995–96Primeira Liga100000000100
Stoke City1996–97First Division2000200040
Alverca1996–97Segunda Liga6000000060
1997–98Segunda Liga300200000320
1998–99Primeira Liga290000000290
1999–2000Primeira Liga251000000251
2000–01Primeira Liga131000000131
Total10322000001052
Vitória Setúbal2001–02Primeira Liga311000000311
2002–03Primeira Liga251100000261
Total562100000572
Rot-Weiß Oberhausen2003–042. Bundesliga240100000250
2004–052. Bundesliga100100000110
Total340200000360
União Leiria2005–06Primeira Liga1100000011
2006–07Primeira Liga3000000030
2007–08Primeira Liga120102060210
Total161102060256
Atromitos Yeroskipou2008–09Cypriot First Division6100000061
Pinhalnovense2009–10Segunda Divisão270510000321
2010–11Segunda Divisão110200000130
Total380710000451
Career total3399131406036210

References

  1. ^ "Hugo Costa" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  2. ^ Filho, Álvaro (17 March 2021). "Parou Ronaldo e foi treinado por Jesus. Agora, Hugo conduz um Uber nas ruas de Lisboa" [He stopped Ronaldo and was coached by Jesus. Now, Hugo drives an Uber in the streets of Lisbon] (in Portuguese). A Mensagem. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  3. ^ Lowe, Simon (2000). Stoke City The Modern Era – A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 978-1-874287-39-1.
  4. ^ "Stoke City". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  5. ^ Antão, Vasco (16 March 2000). "Hugo Costa (Alverca) está pronto para "secar" Nuno Gomes" [Hugo Costa (Alverca) is ready to "put a lid" on Nuno Gomes] (in Portuguese). Record. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Hugo Costa (Alverca) regressa após lesão" [Hugo Costa (Alverca) returns following injury] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. 8 February 2001. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Dupla de recurso sem Hugo Costa" [Makeshift duo without Hugo Costa] (in Portuguese). Record. 8 January 2002. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  8. ^ Wentz, Gustav (7 August 2003). "Costas Einstand steht nichts im Weg" [Nothing stands in the way of Costa's debut] (in German). Kicker. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  9. ^ "RWO: Die Spieler in der Saison-Einzelkritik" [RWO: The players in season review] (in German). Revier Sport. 31 May 2005. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Hugo Costa e Hadson são os últimos reforços" [Hugo Costa and Hadson are the last additions] (in Portuguese). Jornal de Notícias. 1 February 2006. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  11. ^ "União de Leiria agradece devoção de Vítor Oliveira, treinador campeão em 1998, que morreu hoje" [União Leiria thanks dedication of Vítor Oliveira, champion manager in 1998, dead today] (in Portuguese). Jornal de Leiria. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  12. ^
  13. ^