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.

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 (age 52)
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)
1990–1991Fafe (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-up 2004 Portugal
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Belgium-Netherlands
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Winner 1991 Portugal
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Runner-up 1994 France
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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.

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.[3][4][5] In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 as one of the 125 greatest living football players.[6]

Club career

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Benfica

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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.[7]

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.[8][9] This would be Benfica's last league title for the next ten seasons.

Fiorentina

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

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.[10] 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

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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,[11] paying 85 billion lire (€43,898,836) for the player.[12][13] 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.[14] He added further goals in wins over CSKA Sofia (second round)[15] and Hapoel Tel Aviv (quarter-finals)[16] in a run to the last four. He was hampered by injuries throughout the whole season, including a wrist injury on his debut, while his form was inconsistent.[17] Playing away at Fiorentina, he greeted his former club's fans in tears, which led to an angry reaction when he returned to Milan.[17]

Ahead of his second season at Milan, Costa's faced competition from Brazilian new signing Rivaldo, but secured a starting place against him.[17] On 24 September 2002, he assisted three goals in a 4–0 Champions League group win at Deportivo de La Coruña, leading a television commentator to call him three times better than Zinedine Zidane.[17] He scored his first domestic goal on 18 December, 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

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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

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Youth and Euro 96

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Costa was part of the Portugal national under-20 team under manager Carlos Queiroz who won the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship on home soil. After a goalless draw with Brazil in the final at his club ground of the Estádio da Luz, he scored the winning penalty in the final.[36]

On 31 March 1993, Costa made his debut for the senior national team in a 1–1 draw away to Switzerland, in 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification.[37] In his third game on 19 June in another qualifier at home to Malta, he scored his first goal in a 4–0 win.[38] He was part of the squad at UEFA Euro 1996 in England, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by runners-up the Czech Republic.[39]

Euro 2000

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Costa was sent off for the only time in his entire career on 6 September 1997,[40] in a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier away to Germany. While being substituted, he was shown a red card by referee Marc Batta for leaving the pitch too slowly, meaning that Portugal could not bring Sérgio Conceição on as a replacement. Minutes after the dismissal, the Germans equalised through Ulf Kirsten, meaning that they and not the Portuguese would go to the final tournament in France.[41] Costa said on the 20th anniversary of the controversy that he would only forgive Batta if he apologised to the Portuguese nation.[42]

In UEFA Euro 2000 qualification, Costa scored six times in home and away victories over Liechtenstein (two each) and Hungary.[43][44] At the finals in Belgium and the Netherlands, he assisted the last two goals by João Pinto and Nuno Gomes in a 3–2 comeback win over England in a run to the semi-finals.[45]

2002 World Cup and Euro 2004

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Portugal were eliminated at the group stage in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Costa was dropped for Pinto after a shock 3–2 opening loss to the United States, but came on as a substitute in the next game and finished Capucho's cross to conclude a 4–0 win over Poland.[46]

Before UEFA Euro 2004 on home soil, Costa and Luís Figo criticised the decision of manager Luiz Felipe Scolari to select his Brazilian compatriot Deco – a player in Costa's same position.[47] After being substituted at half time in another shock opening loss, this time to Greece, Costa was dropped for Deco in the next match against Russia.[48] He came off the bench in that game and finished a Cristiano Ronaldo cross to secure a 2–0 victory.[49] In the quarter-finals against England, again as a substitute, he scored a long-range goal in extra time as the game finished 2–2 and went to penalties; he missed in the shootout but his team prevailed.[50]

Costa retired from international football after the unexpected defeat to the Greeks again in the Euro 2004 final.[51] He scored 26 goals in 94 games, making him ninth-highest capped player and seventh-highest goalscorer.[52]

Style of play

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Costa is considered by pundits to have been one of the greatest midfielders both of his generation, as well as one of Portugal's best players ever, and was regarded as one of the best playmakers in the world in his prime.[3][53][4][5][6][54] A classic number 10, he usually played in a creative role as an attacking midfielder behind the strikers, but was also capable of playing in midfield as a deep-lying playmaker, as a second striker, or as a winger. A quick, technically gifted and elegant player, throughout his career, he was renowned for his excellent dribbling skills, close control, intelligent movement, vision, and precise passing, which made him an effective assist provider, and enabled him to create space for his teammates, or orchestrate his teams' attacking moves. Although he was mainly known to be a creative team player, he also possessed an eye for goal from midfield, and was an accurate striker of the ball with either foot, in particular from outside the area. He was also an accurate free kick and penalty taker.[4][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64] Despite his talent and ability, however, he was also known for being inconsistent.[65]

Media

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Costa was sponsored by American sportswear company Nike and appeared in Nike commercials.[66][67] 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.[66] Rui Costa features in EA Sports' FIFA football video game series; he was included in the Ultimate Team Legends in FIFA 16.[68]

Post-playing career

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Sporting director

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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.[69] The following Summer, Costa tried to strengthen the team after a disappointing league campaign the previous season;[citation needed] he signed striker Javier Saviola, attacking midfielder Ramires, and defensive midfielder Javi García, led by manager Jorge Jesus.[70][71][72][73] 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

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On 14 May 2008, Costa was appointed an administrator of Benfica SAD.[74] 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.[75] After acting as interim president of the club and its SAD from 9 July 2021,[76] in the aftermath of Vieira suspending his presidency due to arrest in operation Cartão Vermelho (Red Card),[77][78] 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%.[79][78]

During election campaign, Costa had pledged, among other promises, a forensic audit of the club's SAD (released in June 2024),[80] a revision of the club's statutes (the board's first proposal, criticized by the Commission for Revision of the Statutes,[81] was made available on 14 July 2023 and is open for discussion and improvement suggestions by club members),[82] 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.[83]

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.[84] 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,[85] but Fernández left Benfica via negotiation on 31 January 2023, with Benfica paying to "intermediary services" for the transfer.[86] 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. Benfica started the next season by winning the Portuguese Super Cup, but failed to win any other trophy, despite an investment of €100 million.

Personal life

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Costa was married to Rute from 1994 to 2013, and fathered two sons.[87] The elder, Filipe, is CEO of Footlab, a football agency,[88] while the younger, Hugo, is a footballer.[89]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[90]
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Fafe (loan) 1990–91 Segunda Divisão 38 6 0 0 38 6
Benfica 1991–92 Primeira Liga 21 4 3 0 7[b] 0 1[c] 0 32 4
1992–93 23 4 4 1 4[d] 0 1[c] 0 32 5
1993–94 34 5 3 1 8[e] 4 2[c] 0 47 10
Total 78 13 10 2 19 4 4 0 111 19
Fiorentina 1994–95 Serie A 31 9 4 0 35 9
1995–96 34 4 7 2 41 6
1996–97 28 2 1 0 8[e] 0 1[f] 0 38 2
1997–98 32 3 5 2 37 5
1998–99 31 10 7 4 1[d] 0 39 14
1999–2000 30 4 4 0 14[g] 2 48 6
2000–01 29 6 7 2 2[d] 0 38 8
Total 215 38 35 10 25 2 1 0 276 50
AC Milan 2001–02 Serie A 22 0 1 0 10[d] 3 33 3
2002–03 25 0 5 1 18[g] 0 48 1
2003–04 28 3 4 0 6[g] 0 3[h] 0 41 3
2004–05 24 1 4 0 9[g] 0 1[f] 0 38 1
2005–06 25 0 3 3 4[g] 0 32 3
Total 124 4 17 4 47 3 4 0 192 11
Benfica 2006–07 Primeira Liga 14 0 3 0 5[i] 1 22 1
2007–08 29 5 4 3 12 2 0 0 45 10
Total 43 5 7 3 17 3 0 0 67 11
Career total 498 66 69 19 108 12 9 0 684 97
  1. ^ Includes Taça de Portugal, Coppa Italia
  2. ^ Appearances in European Cup
  3. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  4. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
  5. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
  6. ^ a b Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
  7. ^ a b c d e 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

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[91]
National team Year Apps Goals
Portugal 1993 7 2
1994 5 1
1995 7 3
1996 11 2
1997 4 0
1998 5 3
1999 9 6
2000 13 3
2001 6 0
2002 7 2
2003 11 1
2004 9 3
Total 94 26
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[92]
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

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Benfica

Fiorentina

AC Milan[55]

Portugal U18

Portugal U20

Portugal U21

Portugal

Individual

Orders

References

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  1. ^ "Rui Costa". S.L. Benfica. Archived from the original on 24 June 2007.
  2. ^ "Rui Costa eleito o 34.º presidente do Benfica com 84,48% dos votos". TSF Rádio Notícias. 10 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b "SportMob – Best Portuguese Players of All Time". 25 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Euro 2000 Profile – Manuel Rui Costa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b Siciliano, Vincenzo (12 November 2016). "Rui Costa, il Maestro che ha incantato in Italia". tuttomercatoweb.com (in Italian). Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "Pele's list of the greatest". BBC Sport. 4 March 2004. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  7. ^ "Associação Desportiva de Fafe". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). 15 December 2012.
  8. ^ "Campeonato Nacional da I Divisão 1993/94". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). 15 December 2012.
  9. ^ "Taça de Portugal 1992/1993". ZeroZero (in Portuguese). 15 December 2012.
  10. ^ "Toldo e Rui Costa al Parma Buffon a un passo dalla Juve". La Repubblica (in Italian). 29 June 2001. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Milan snap up £30m Rui Costa". BBC Sport. 3 July 2001. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  12. ^ A.C. Fiorentina S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2001 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  13. ^ "Rui Costa in rossonero". RAI Sport (in Italian). 3 July 2001. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  14. ^ "L'altro Milan strapazza il Bate Borisov (4–0)" [The other Milan destroy BATE Borisov (4–0)]. La Repubblica (in Italian). 27 September 2001. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Milan, facile vittoria con un debolissimo Cska" [Milan, easy victory against a very weak CSKA]. La Repubblica (in Italian). 18 October 2001. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Hapoel dream ends". BBC Sport. 21 March 2002. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  17. ^ a b c d Lawrence, Amy (17 November 2002). "Real challenge for Rui Costa is to beat Spanish at their own game". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  18. ^ "L'Ancona spaventa il Milan poi è [sic] valanga rossonera" [Ancona scare Milan then Rossonera avalanche]. La Repubblica (in Italian). 18 December 2002. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  19. ^ "Crollo della Roma, il Milan mette le mani sulla Coppa Italia" [Roma collapse, Milan get their hands on the Coppa Italia]. La Repubblica (in Italian). 20 May 2003. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
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  26. ^ "Stats: Salaries in Serie A". AC Milan Forums.
  27. ^ "Rui Costa abdica de 700 mil contos/ano" [Rui Costa abdicates 700 thousand contos per year]. Record (in Portuguese). 27 May 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  28. ^ "Austria Wien 1–1 Benfica". zerozero (in Portuguese). 22 August 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
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  30. ^ "Nova lesão muscular pode afastar Rui Costa por um mês" [New muscle injury could sideline Rui Costa for a month]. Diário de Notícias. 21 February 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  31. ^ "Rui Costa: "Próxima época é a última"" [Rui Costa: «The next season will be the last»]. Record (in Portuguese). 28 May 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  32. ^ "Benfica 2–1 FC København". zerozero (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  33. ^ "Holders begin with Benfica". UEFA (in Portuguese). 14 September 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  34. ^ "Rui Costa futebolista do ano" [Rui Costa footballer of the year]. Record (in Portuguese). 29 February 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  35. ^ "Benfica 3–0 V. Setúbal". zerozero (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  36. ^ "Geracao de Ouro: Birth of Portugal's golden generation of footballers". FIFA. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  37. ^ "Rui Costa: "É um sonho poder voltar ao Benfica"" [Rui Costa: "It's a dream to be able to return to Benfica"]. Record (in Portuguese). 24 January 2003. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  38. ^ "Rui Costa: O tesouro do cofre-forte virou património mundial" [Rui Costa: The treasure from the vault who became world heritage]. Record (in Portuguese). 3 October 2001. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  39. ^ "Czechs bid for '96 revival in Portugal reunion". UEFA. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  40. ^ "Há 20 anos, Rui Costa era expulso pela primeira (e única) vez" [20 years ago, Rui Costa was sent off for the first (and only) time] (in Portuguese). SIC Notícias. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  41. ^ "Foi há 25 anos que Marc Batta levou Rui Costa às lágrimas e deixou Portugal fora do Mundial" [It was on this day 25 years ago that Marc Batta left Rui Costa in tears and left Portugal out of the World Cup]. Record (in Portuguese). 6 September 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  42. ^ "Rui Costa sobre Batta: "Desculpo-o quando pedir desculpa ao meu País"" [Rui Costa on Batta: "I will forgive him when he apologises to my country] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
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  44. ^ "Selecção e o velho hábito de ser feliz com a Hungria" [National team and the old habit of being happy with Hungary] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 8 September 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  45. ^ "England floored by thrilling Portugal comeback in EURO 2000 Group A". UEFA. 6 October 2003. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  46. ^ "Portugal back on track". BBC Sport. 10 June 2002. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  47. ^ "Deco wins Rui Costa seal of approval". Irish Examiner. 11 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  48. ^ Kelso, Paul (16 June 2004). "Scolari to put faith in Deco ahead of Costa". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  49. ^ "Russia 0-2 Portugal". BBC Sport. 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  50. ^ "Portugal break England hearts". BBC Sport. 24 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  51. ^ "United want Rui Costa". Mail & Guardian. 27 July 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  52. ^ "Portugal – Record International Players". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  53. ^ "20 Greatest Playmakers in the History of World Football". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  54. ^ Brewin, John (16 February 2004). "Bridging the generation gap". ESPN FC. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  55. ^ a b c "A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Manuel Rui Costa". A.C. Milan. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  56. ^ "KEY MEN". The Daily Star. 28 May 2003. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
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  59. ^ "Real challenge for Rui Costa is to beat Spanish at their own game". The Guardian. 17 November 2002. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
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  61. ^ Cox, Michael (1 September 2010). "My Perfect 10: Rui Costa". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  62. ^ Calamai, Luca (14 November 1998). "A Batistuta manca una casella" [Batistuta still has one box to tick off]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 27 March 2017.
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Further reading

edit
  • 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.
edit
Preceded by President of Benfica
2021–present
Succeeded by
Incumbent