Tino Costa
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Alberto Facundo Costa | ||
Date of birth | 9 January 1985 | ||
Place of birth | Las Flores, Argentina | ||
Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
1996–2002 | La Terrazza | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2002–2004 | Racing Club B-T | ||
2004–2005 | RCF Paris | 28 | (3) |
2005–2007 | Pau | 62 | (4) |
2007–2008 | Sète | 29 | (3) |
2008–2010 | Montpellier | 66 | (15) |
2010–2013 | Valencia | 84 | (10) |
2013–2016 | Spartak Moscow | 31 | (3) |
2015–2016 | → Genoa (loan) | 18 | (2) |
2016 | → Fiorentina (loan) | 7 | (0) |
2016–2017 | San Lorenzo | 8 | (0) |
2017–2018 | Almería | 14 | (2) |
International career | |||
2011–2012 | Argentina | 2 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 June 2018 |
Alberto Facundo "Tino" Costa (born 9 January 1985) is an Argentinian footballer. He plays as a midfielder and is known for his technical skill, penalty-taking, his free kick ability and his pin-point passing.
Club career
Early career
Costa, commonly known as Tino, began his career in Argentina playing for local club La Terrazza. At the age of 17, he made the highly risky decision of leaving the country for the island of Guadeloupe to play for Racing Club de Basse-Terre in the Guadeloupe Division d'Honneur.
Costa spent two years at the island club helping the club win the league and cup double. He played in the 2004 edition of the Coupe de Guadeloupe final helping his club defeat AS Gosier by a score of 3–1. His great play caught the attention of Racing Club de Paris, who offered the player a trial.[1] Racing, who were playing in the third-tier National, signed the player and Costa played one season for the club appearing in 28 total matches scoring 3 goals.
The following season, Costa joined Pau FC, another club in the National. At Pau, he appeared in 39 total matches scoring 4 goals with Pau barely avoiding relegation in both years he spent there.[2]
After leaving Pau, Costa joined his third National club in FC Sète. There, he became a household name in the league appearing in 29 total matches scoring 3 goals helping Sète come within seven points of promotion. He also assisted on several goals and collected nine yellow cards. For his efforts, he was named the league's top player, which led to interest from clubs in the higher divisions.
Montpellier
Costa signed with Montpellier of Ligue 2 for the 2008–09 season, after agreeing to a three-year contract. He made his debut for the club in their opening match of the season, playing the full 90 minutes in their loss to Strasbourg.[3] He scored his first career goal for the club a few weeks later in their 4–0 demolition of Reims.[4] He was held scoreless for the majority of the fall season, before returning to form mid-season scoring a brace against Boulogne.[5] In a span of six weeks, during the latter part of the season, Costa scored goals against Dijon,[6] Châteauroux,[7] Brest,[8] and Clermont.[9] As a result, Montpellier were among the head of the pack for promotion to Ligue 1. The club's future was determined on the final day of the season with a 2–1 victory over Strasbourg, who were also fighting for promotion. Costa scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 19th minute helping Montpellier return to Ligue 1 play.[10] For the entire season, Costa scored 8 goals and assisted on 11 goals. He was nominated for the Ligue 2 Player of the Year award, but lost out to the Cameroonian Paul Alo'o.
Following the season, several Ligue 1 clubs began inquiring for Costa's services, most notably RC Lens and Toulouse.[11] However, Costa refuted any claims of leaving the city of Montpellier and signed a contract extension on 1 July 2009 until the year 2013.[12] Despite missing the club's opening 1–1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain, Costa made his Ligue 1 debut against Lorient scoring the club's opening goal in the 60th minute. The match ended in a 2–2 draw.[13] The following week, he scored again, this time in a 2–0 victory over Sochaux.[14] Two weeks later, he converted a 39th-minute penalty against Lens. The goal turned out to be the winner.[15]
Valencia
On 1 July 2010, Costa joined La Liga club Valencia on a four-year contract for a transfer fee of €6.5 million. He scored his first goal for Valencia on his debut in the UEFA Champions League. The midfielder shot accurately from 30 yards out, and Valencia went on to win 0–4 at Bursaspor. He scored his first league goal for Valencia against Getafe on 14 November 2010. On 18 December he scored his second league goal from 35 yards out when he converted a free-kick against Real Sociedad.
Spartak Moscow
On 5 June 2013 it was announced that Costa left Valencia to go to Russian giants Spartak Moscow for €7M transfer fee.[16]
Genoa / Fiorentina (loans)
It was confirmed that Costa would join Serie A side Genoa for the 2015-16 season. On 15 January 2016 Fiorentina had confirmed the 6-month loan signing of Costa with the view to a permanent option at the end of the season.
San Lorenzo
On the midnight 21 July 2016 it was announced that Costa left Spartak to go to Argentinian giants San Lorenzo as a free agent.[17] However, he only appeared in eight matches for the club during his spell.
Almería
On 1 August 2017, Costa signed a one-year deal with UD Almería in Segunda División.[18] He contributed with two goals in only 14 appearances, as his season was marred by injuries.
Career statistics
- (Correct as of 6 January 2016)
Club | Season | League | Cup[nb 1] | Europe[nb 2] | Total | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
RC Basse-Terre | 2003–04 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Total | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
Racing Paris | 2004–05 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | 3 |
Total | 28 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | 3 | |
Pau | 2005–06 | 31 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 4 |
2006–07 | 31 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 5 | |
Total | 62 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 4 | 9 | |
Sète | 2007–08 | 29 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 7 |
Total | 29 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 7 | |
Montpellier | 2008–09 | 35 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 8 | 11 |
2009–10 | 31 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 7 | 6 | |
Total | 66 | 15 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 15 | 17 | |
Valencia | 2010–11 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 6 | 4 |
2011–12 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 40 | 7 | 6 | |
2012–13 | 31 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 42 | 3 | 10 | |
Total | 81 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 9 | 114 | 16 | 20 | |
Spartak Moscow | 2013–14 | 24 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 3 | 6 |
2014–15 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | |
Total | 31 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 3 | 8 | |
Genoa (loan) | 2014–15 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
2015–16 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 2 | |
Career total | 315 | 40 | 56 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 10 | 358 | 46 | 66 |
- ^ Includes Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Coupe de Guadeloupe, Trophée des Champions
- ^ Includes UEFA Supercup
Honours
- Racing Club B-T
- Guadeloupe Division d'Honneur: 2003–04
- Coupe de Guadeloupe: 2004
References
- ^ "Alberto Costa: Globetrotter". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 21 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Alberto Costa joueur de Montpellier". Foot-National. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
- ^ "Strasbourg v. Montpellier Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 4 August 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Reims v. Montpellier Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Boulogne v. Montpellier Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Montpellier v. Dijon Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Montpellier v. Châteauroux Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 6 March 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Montpellier v. Brest Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Montpellier v. Clermont Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 3 April 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Montpellier v. Strasbourg Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 29 May 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Costa: "I've remained to improve"". Only Soccer. 3 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
- ^ "Costa prolonge". Foot Mercato. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
- ^ "Lorient v. Montpellier Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 15 August 2009. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Montpellier v. Sochaux Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 22 August 2009. Archived from the original on 16 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Montpellier v. Lens Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 12 September 2009. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Costa celebrates Valencia switch". Union of European Football Associations. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
- ^ "Tino Costa y Mathías Corujo, dos refuerzos para San Lorenzo". La Nación. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Tino Costa se convierte en nuevo jugador de la UD Almería" [Tino Costa becomes the new player of UD Almería] (in Spanish). UD Almería. 1 August 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
External links
- Tino Costa at BDFutbol
- Tino Costa – French league stats at LFP – also available in French (archived)
- Ciberche stats and bio Template:Es icon
- Use dmy dates from September 2011
- 1985 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Buenos Aires
- Argentine footballers
- Argentina international footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Racing Club de Basse-Terre players
- Ligue 1 players
- Ligue 2 players
- Championnat National players
- Racing Club de France football Colombes 92 players
- Pau FC players
- FC Sète 34 players
- Montpellier HSC players
- La Liga players
- Segunda División players
- Valencia CF players
- UD Almería players
- Russian Premier League players
- FC Spartak Moscow players
- Serie A players
- Genoa C.F.C. players
- ACF Fiorentina players
- Argentine Primera División players
- San Lorenzo footballers
- Argentine expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in Guadeloupe
- Expatriate footballers in France
- Expatriate footballers in Spain
- Expatriate footballers in Russia
- Expatriate footballers in Italy