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

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 12 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

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

Club career edit

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 edit

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 edit

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]

Honours edit

Sporting CP

Porto

References edit

  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 c "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.
  12. ^ "«Táctica do pirilau» hipoteca aspirações insulares" ["Wiener tactic" thwarts islanders' aspirations]. Record (in Portuguese). 10 June 2001. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Histórico da Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira" [Supercup Cândido de Oliveira all-time record] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. 11 August 2012. p. 10. Retrieved 16 April 2024.

External links edit