Alberto Facundo "Tino" Costa (born 9 January 1985) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is known for his technical skill, penalty-taking, his free kick ability, and his pin-point passing.
 Costa with Spartak Moscow in 2013 | |||
| 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 | 17 | (3) |
| 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) |
| 2018–2019 | San Martín Tucumán | 13 | (4) |
| 2019–2020 | Atlético Nacional | 11 | (1) |
| 2020–2023 | San Martín Tucumán | 48 | (6) |
| 2023 | Deportivo Morón | 2 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Pau | 3 | (0) |
| 2023 | Pau B | 1 | (0) |
| Total | 446 | (56) | |
| International career | |||
| 2011–2012 | Argentina | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editEarly career
editCosta, 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. During his time there, he went to school and worked at a supermarket.[1]
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. After two years in Guadeloupe,[2] his great play caught the attention of Racing Club de Paris, who offered the player a trial.[3] 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.
Pau
editThe following season, Costa joined Pau, another club in the National. At Pau, he appeared in 62 total matches scoring 4 goals with Pau barely avoiding relegation in both years he spent there.[4]
Sète
editAfter 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
editCosta 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.[5] He scored his first career goal for the club a few weeks later in their 4–0 demolition of Reims.[6] He was held scoreless for the majority of the fall season, before returning to form mid-season scoring a brace against Boulogne.[7] In a span of six weeks, during the latter part of the season, Costa scored goals against Dijon,[8] Châteauroux,[9] Brest,[10] and Clermont.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] However, Costa refuted any claims of leaving the city of Montpellier and signed a contract extension on 1 July 2009 until the year 2013.[14] 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.[15] The following week, he scored again, this time in a 2–0 victory over Sochaux.[16] Two weeks later, he converted a 39th-minute penalty against Lens. The goal turned out to be the winner.[17]
Valencia
editOn 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.
He acquired French nationality by naturalization in 2011.[18]
Spartak Moscow
editOn 5 June 2013, it was announced that Costa left Valencia to go to Russian giants Spartak Moscow for €7 million transfer fee.[19]
Loans to Genoa and Fiorentina
editIt was confirmed that Costa would join Serie A side Genoa for the 2015–16 season. On 15 January 2016, Fiorentina confirmed the six-month loan signing of Costa with the view to a permanent option at the end of the season.
San Lorenzo
editOn the midnight 21 July 2016 it was announced that Costa left Spartak to go to Argentinian giants San Lorenzo as a free agent.[20] However, he only appeared in eight matches for the club during his spell.
Almería
editOn 1 August 2017, Costa signed a one-year deal with UD Almería in Segunda División.[21] He contributed with two goals in only 14 appearances, as his season was marred by injuries.
Second stint at Pau
editIn September 2023, at the age of 38, and having been without a club since last March, Tino Costa has signed a one-year contract with Pau FC, one of his first professional clubs, where he played for two seasons between 2005 and 2007. Without a club since March, Costa had been training with Pau since September 4. Costa's excellent physical condition prompted the Maynats' officials to offer him a one-year contract.[22]
In May 2024, Costa announced his retirement.[23]
Career statistics
editThis section needs to be updated. (August 2024) |
- As of 1 August 2020
| Club | Season | League | Cup[nb 1] | Europe[nb 2] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| RC Basse-Terre | 2003–04 | Guadeloupe Division of Honour | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Racing Paris | 2004–05 | National | 28 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 |
| Pau | 2005–06 | National | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 2 |
| 2006–07 | National | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 2 | |
| Total | 62 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 4 | ||
| Sète | 2007–08 | National | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 3 |
| Montpellier | 2008–09 | Ligue 2 | 35 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 8 |
| 2009–10 | Ligue 1 | 31 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 7 | |
| Total | 66 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 15 | ||
| Valencia | 2010–11[24] | La Liga | 24 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 32 | 6 |
| 2011–12[24] | La Liga | 27 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 41 | 7 | |
| 2012–13[24] | La Liga | 31 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 42 | 3 | |
| Total | 82 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 24 | 3 | 115 | 16 | ||
| Spartak Moscow | 2013–14[25] | Russian Premier League | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 3 |
| 2014–15[25] | Russian Premier League | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 31 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 3 | ||
| Genoa (loan) | 2014–15[25] | Serie A | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| 2015–16[25] | Serie A | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Total | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | ||
| Fiorentina (loan) | 2015–16[25] | Serie A | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| San Lorenzo | 2016–17[25] | Argentine Primera División | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Almería | 2017–18[25] | Segunda División | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| San Martín Tucumán | 2018–19[25] | Argentine Primera División | 13 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 |
| Atlético Nacional | 2019[25] | Categoría Primera A | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| 2020[25] | Categoría Primera A | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | ||
| San Martín Tucumán | 2020[25] | Primera B Nacional | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 369 | 47 | 24 | 3 | 30 | 3 | 423 | 53 | ||
- ^ Includes Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Coupe de Guadeloupe, Trophée des Champions
- ^ Includes UEFA Supercup
Honours
editRacing Club B-T
- Guadeloupe Division d'Honneur: 2003–04
- Coupe de Guadeloupe: 2004
References
edit- ^ Tino Costa: "Me gustaría jugar en San Lorenzo" elgrafico.com.ar
- ^ Valencia's Costa takes long road to the top uaefa.com
- ^ "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. Archived from the original on 4 September 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.
- ^ "Montpellier v. Sochaux Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 22 August 2009. Archived from the original on 16 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
- ^ "Montpellier v. Lens Match Report". Ligue de Football Professionnel. 12 September 2009. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
- ^ Le10Sport.com. "Equipe de France Costa pour remplacer Nasri". Le10Sport (in French). Retrieved 12 August 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "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.
- ^ "Transferts : Tino Costa fait son retour à Pau". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ "Foot : Tino Costa va tirer sa révérence à Pau". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b c "Tino Costa, Alberto Facundo Costa - Footballer". BDFutbol. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "A. Costa". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
External links
edit- Tino Costa at BDFutbol
- Tino Costa – French league stats at LFP – also available in French (archived)
- Ciberche stats and bio (in Spanish)
- Tino Costa at Soccerway