Rui Costa

Rui Manuel César Costa OIH (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁuj ˈkɔʃtɐ]; born 29 March 1972) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who is the 34th president of sports club S.L. Benfica.[2] He also succeeded Luís Filipe Vieira as president of the club's SAD board of directors.

This article is about the Portuguese international footballer. For other people, see Rui Costa (disambiguation).
In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is César and the second or paternal family name is Costa.

Rui Costa
Costa in 2019
34th President of Benfica
Assumed office
10 October 2021
Preceded byLuís Filipe Vieira
Personal details
Born
Rui Manuel César Costa

(1972-03-29) 29 March 1972
Amadora, Portugal
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
OccupationFootballer
Association football career
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
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 AC Milan 124 (4)
2006–2008 Benfica 43 (5)
Total 498 (66)
International career
1990 Portugal U18 4 (1)
1991 Portugal U20 11 (1)
1992–1994 Portugal U21 19 (7)
1993–2004 Portugal 94 (26)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
UEFA European Championship
Runner-up2004 Portugal
Bronze medal – third place2000 Belgium-Netherlands
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Winner1991 Portugal
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Runner-up1994 France
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Nicknamed "The Maestro",[3] Costa spent the majority of his football career with Benfica in Portugal and Fiorentina and AC Milan in Italy. In a top-flight career spanning 17 years, he won several trophies, including one Primeira Liga title, one Taça de Portugal, one Serie A title, three Coppa Italia, one UEFA Champions League and one UEFA Super Cup. A Portuguese international, he amassed 94 caps and scored 26 goals for A Seleção and represented the country in three UEFA European Championships and one FIFA World Cup.

Considered one of the best playmakers of all time,[4] Costa usually played as an attacking midfielder and was particularly known for his excellent technique, playmaking ability, and eye for goal from midfield. He is regarded as one of the best midfielders in world football and one of Portugal's best players of all time.[5][6][3] In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 as one of the 125 greatest living football players.[7]

Club career

Benfica

At age 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 Costa's 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.[8]

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.[9][10] This would be Benfica's last league title for the next ten seasons.

Fiorentina

At the end of his third season in Benfica's senior squad, Fiorentina offered 1,200 million escudos (approximately €6 million) for the 21-year-old midfielder.

Despite heavy competition with the best midfielders at that time, Costa was named the best number 10 player in 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 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.[11] Despite both players refusal to join, Costa and Toldo were sold to AC Milan and Inter Milan, respectively, for the same total transfer fee.

AC Milan

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,[12] paying 85 billion lire (€43,898,836) for the player.[13][14] 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.[15] He added further goals in wins over CSKA Sofia (second round)[16] and Hapoel Tel Aviv (quarter-finals)[17] in a run to the last four.

Costa scored his first domestic goal on 18 December 2002, equalising in a 5–1 win (6–2 aggregate) against Ancona at the San Siro in the second leg of the last 16 of the Coppa Italia.[18] In the 6–3 aggregate final win over Roma in May, he played only 30 minutes as a substitute as Brazilians Rivaldo and Serginho were preferred in attacking midfield.[19][20] This was to rest him for the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final against Juventus, in which he was substituted injured for Massimo Ambrosini near the end of regulation time in a goalless draw that the Rossoneri won on penalties at Old Trafford.[21] On 29 August, he played in the 1–0 victory over Porto in the 2003 UEFA Super Cup, in which he crossed for the only goal by Andriy Shevchenko.[22]

From 2003–04, Costa's playing time was limited by the emergent Brazilian youngster Kaká.[23] He contributed his first three league goals to Milan's title-winning campaign, starting with one in a 5–0 home win over Ancona on 25 January.[24]

Return to Benfica
Costa with Benfica in 2007

On 25 May 2006, Costa's return to Benfica in the upcoming season was announced in a press conference.[25] He had been released from Milan, after both the player and the club reached an agreement to end his €4.6 million per year contract, in order to fulfill his long-held dream of returning to Benfica.[26][27] Costa started on his return in a 2006–07 UEFA Champions League qualifier against Austria Wien in August 2006,[28] and the second leg saw Costa score in his home return. Despite Costa being used as a regular under manager Fernando Santos when available, the season was impaired with injuries: he suffered a muscle tear in October, which kept him out of action for three months,[29] and another muscular injury in February.[30]

Prior to the end of the season, Costa announced the following one would be his last as a professional.[31] After assuring the qualification to the Champions League group stage, which included a brace from Costa against Copenhagen,[32] Benfica was drawn against Costa's former club Milan.;[33] he returned to play one last time at the San Siro on 18 September 2007. Costa remained a first team choice under José Antonio Camacho and Fernando Chalana and his displays would earn him the SJPF Player of the Month award for September 2007 and Benfica's Player of the Year award for 2007.[34] Costa played his final match 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.[35] The season, as well as the previous one, ended trophyless.

International career

In the summer of 1991, Costa's 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.”

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

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

Costa also took part in the 2002 FIFA 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 scored 26 goals in 94 games; he is Portugal's eighth-highest capped player and seventh-highest goalscorer.[36]

Style of play

Considered one of the greatest midfielders of his generation and of all time,[3][37] Costa was a classic number 10, who usually played in a creative role as an attacking midfielder behind the strikers, but was also capable of playing as a deep-lying playmaker, as a second striker, or as a winger. Despite his ability, however, he was also known for being inconsistent.[38]

Media

Costa was sponsored by American sportswear company Nike and appeared in Nike commercials.[39][40] In 1996, he starred in a Nike commercial titled "Good vs Evil" in a gladiatorial game set in a Roman amphitheatre. Appearing alongside football players from around the world, including Ronaldo, Paolo Maldini, Eric Cantona, Luís Figo and Patrick Kluivert, they defend "The Beautiful Game" against a team of demonic warriors, before it culminates with Cantona striking the ball and destroying evil.[39] Rui Costa features in EA Sports' FIFA football video game series; he was included in the Ultimate Team Legends in FIFA 16.[41]

Post-playing career

Sporting director

The day after his last professional match, Costa was presented as director of football at Benfica. During the summer 2008 transfer window, Costa brought head coach Quique Sánchez Flores, playmaker Pablo Aimar, winger José Antonio Reyes, and striker David Suazo, the latter two on loan.[42] The following Summer, Costa tried to strengthen the team after a disappointing league campaign the previous season; he signed striker Javier Saviola, attacking midfielder Ramires, and defensive midfielder Javi García, led by manager Jorge Jesus.[43][44][45][46] Benfica would win the 2009–10 Primeira Liga, the first league title since 2004–05, and the Taça da Liga that season, defeating Porto in the final.

Administration

On 14 May 2008, Costa was appointed an administrator of Benfica SAD.[47] For the 2020–24 quadrennial, he became a vice-president of the club's board of directors, as part of Luís Filipe Vieira's list for a sixth consecutive mandate.[48] After acting as interim president of the club and its SAD from 9 July 2021,[49] in the aftermath of Vieira suspending his presidency due to arrest in operation Cartão Vermelho (Red Card),[50][51] Costa was elected the 34th president of Benfica on 9 October, assuming office the following day. With 84.48% of the votes, he defeated candidate Francisco Benitez, who received 12.24%.[52][51]

During election campaign, Costa had pledged, among other promises, a forensic audit of the club's SAD,[53] a revision of the club's statutes (the board's first proposal, criticized by the Commission for Revision of the Statutes,[54] was made available on 14 July 2023 and is open for discussion and improvement suggestions by club members),[55] transparency regarding football transfers, retention of players "made in Seixal", a reduction of the number of players, a maximum wage for players, and improvements to Estádio da Luz.[56]

Including his interim role, the men's football team was trophyless under his first year of presidency. Back in January 2022, Costa had said that his signature on player contracts under investigation by authorities in Cartão Vermelho did not imply he was in collusion with anyone.[57] During the 2022–23 winter transfer window, Costa promised not to release central midfielder Enzo Fernández unless a club paid the player's buyout clause,[58] but Fernández left Benfica via negotiation on 31 January 2023, with Benfica paying to "intermediary services" for the transfer.[59] After signing with Roger Schmidt, Benfica's first non-Portuguese manager since Flores, the club won the 2022–23 Primeira Liga, ending a four-year trophy wait.

Personal life

Costa was married to Rute from 1994 to 2013, and fathered two sons.[60] The elder, Filipe, is CEO of Footlab, a football agency,[61] while the younger, Hugo, is a footballer.[62]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[63]
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Fafe (loan) 1990–91 Segunda Divisão 38600——386
Benfica 1991–92 Primeira Liga 214307[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 3]0324
1992–93 234414[lower-alpha 4]01[lower-alpha 3]0325
1993–94 345318[lower-alpha 5]42[lower-alpha 3]04710
Total 78131021944011119
Fiorentina 1994–95 Serie A 31940——359
1995–96 34472——416
1996–97 282108[lower-alpha 5]01[lower-alpha 6]0382
1997–98 32352——375
1998–99 3110741[lower-alpha 4]0—3914
1999–2000 3044014[lower-alpha 7]2—486
2000–01 296722[lower-alpha 4]0—388
Total 2153835102521027650
AC Milan 2001–02 Serie A 2201010[lower-alpha 4]3—333
2002–03 2505118[lower-alpha 7]0—481
2003–04 283406[lower-alpha 7]03[lower-alpha 8]0413
2004–05 241409[lower-alpha 7]01[lower-alpha 6]0381
2005–06 250334[lower-alpha 7]0—323
Total 12441744734019211
Benfica 2006–07 Primeira Liga 140305[lower-alpha 9]1—221
2007–08 29543122004510
Total 43573173006711
Career total 498666919108129068497
  1. Includes Taça de Portugal, Coppa Italia
  2. Appearances in European Cup
  3. Appearance(s) in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  4. Appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
  5. Appearances in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
  6. Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
  7. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  8. One appearance in Supercoppa Italiana, one appearance in UEFA Super Cup, one appearance in Intercontinental Cup
  9. Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Cup

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[64]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Portugal 199372
199451
199573
1996112
199740
199853
199996
2000133
200160
200272
2003111
200493
Total9426
Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Costa goal.
List of international goals scored by Rui Costa[65]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
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 1–0 2–0 World Cup 1994 Qualifying
3 7 September 1994 Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland  Northern Ireland 1–0 2–1 Euro 1996 Qualifying
4 15 August 1995 Sportpark Eschen-Mauren, Eschen, Liechtenstein  Liechtenstein 3–0 7–0 Euro 1996 Qualifying
5 6–0
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 2–1 2–3 Friendly
8 9 October 1996 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania  Albania 3–0 3–0 World Cup 1998 Qualifying
9 19 August 1998 Estádio de São Miguel (Ponta Delgada), Ponta Delgada, Portugal  Mozambique 1–0 2–1 Friendly
10 2–0
11 6 September 1998 Puskás Ferenc Stadium, Budapest, Hungary  Hungary 3–1 3–1 Euro 2000 Qualifying
12 31 March 1999 Sportpark Eschen-Mauren, Eschen, Liechtenstein  Liechtenstein 1–0 5–0 Euro 2000 Qualifying
13 5–0
14 9 June 1999 Estádio Cidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal  Liechtenstein 7–0 8–0 Euro 2000 Qualifying
15 8–0
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 1–0 3–1 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 3–2 3–2 Friendly
23 11 October 2003 Estádio do Restelo, Lisbon, 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 2–0 2–0 Euro 2004
26 24 June 2004 Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal  England 2–1 2–2 Euro 2004

Honours

Benfica

Fiorentina

AC Milan[67]

Portugal U18

Portugal U20

Portugal U21

Portugal

Individual

Orders

References
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Further reading
  • Os Magníficos: Rui Costa, o grande maestro do futebol português [The Magnificents: Rui Costa, the great maestro of Portuguese football] (First ed.). QuidNovi. 2008. ISBN 978-989-554-499-8.
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