Ricardo Costa (Portuguese footballer)

Ricardo Miguel Moreira da Costa (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁiˈkaɾðu ˈkɔʃtɐ]; born 16 May 1981) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Swiss club FC Luzern mainly as a central defender but occasionally as a full back.
After making his senior debut with Porto (where he was only a reserve) he went on to play in Germany, France and Spain, mainly spending several seasons with Valencia in the latter country.
A Portuguese international since 2005, Costa represented the nation in three World Cups and Euro 2012.

Porto

Costa, a product of Boavista FC's youth system, was born in Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto, and moved to neighbours FC Porto when he was still an apprentice. He made his Primeira Liga debut in a 20 January 2002 derby match precisely against Boavista (0–2 away loss, 90 minutes played), but never became more than a fringe player, being preferred in the stopper's pecking order in consecutive seasons to namesake Jorge, Pedro Emanuel, Pepe and Bruno Alves.

Wolfsburg

Costa at Wolfsburg in October 2009

In July 2007, as first-team opportunities appeared few at Porto, Costa signed with Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg on a three-year contract. After a shaky start, he finished the season as an undisputed starter as the side qualified to the UEFA Cup.

On 28 September 2008, in a game against Karlsruher SC, Costa scored just 15 seconds after his introduction, making it the second-fastest goal ever scored by a substitute. In the summer of 2009, he was about to be transferred to Real Zaragoza, but the transfer could not be completed because the two parties could not come to an agreement. The deal was finally canceled on 29 July, and the player returned to Wolfsburg.

On 28 January 2010, although he was being used regularly at Wolfsburg, Costa joined OSC Lille in France.

Valencia

On 17 May, after having contributed relatively to Lille's fourth place in Ligue 1, he moved teams and countries again, joining Valencia CF of Spain on a four-year contract.

On 9 March 2011 Costa scored his first goal for Valencia, putting the Che ahead at FC Schalke 04 for the season's UEFA Champions League round-of-16, in an eventual 1–3 loss (2–4 on aggregate). In the ensuing off-season, he was selected by manager Unai Emery as one of the team's captains.

Things quickly turned sour for Costa however: he was replaced at half-time of an eventual 4–3 home win against Racing de Santander, and quickly went from first to fourth-choice after unflaterring comments directed against his teammates and management.

Later years

Costa left Valencia by mutual consent on 21 July 2014, as his contract was due to expire in June 2015. One week later he signed for Al-Sailiya SC, for two years. He scored his first and only goal for the Qatari club on 30 October, in a 4–3 home success over Al-Wakrah Sport Club.

PAOK FC signed Costa in late January 2015, after a successful medical test. In an interview to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, a few months after his transfer, he talked about his experience in Asia by stating: "It was a completely different reality, that I couldn't accept. Everything was so non professional". During his 12-month tenure, he appeared in 37 games all competitions comprised, his only goal coming on 27 August 2015 in a 1–1 draw at Brøndby IF for the play-off round of the Europa League.

On 1 February 2016, 34-year-old Costa returned to Spain and its top flight and joined Granada CF until June 2017. He vowed to defend his new team "to the death". His first appearance took place six days later, as he played the full 90 minutes in a 1–2 home loss against Real Madrid.

On 5 July 2016, after contributing with 14 starts and one goal to his side's eventual survival, Costa had his contract terminated by mutual consent. He resumed his career at FC Luzern in Switzerland days later.

Costa in action against Croatia in a 2013 friendly

Costa played for Portugal at under-21 level and was also a part of the Olympic team that played in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. A full international since 2005, he was called up to the squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where he appeared against Germany in the 1–3 third-place playoff loss.

On 10 May 2010, national team boss Carlos Queiroz announced a provisional list of 24 players in view for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with Costa being included, thus returning to the squad after an absence of four years. In the tournament he played twice, always as right back: in the group stage 0–0 against Brazil, and the round-of-16 loss against Spain (0–1, where he was sent off in the last minute, receiving a three-match ban for his actions).

Costa played and started two games in the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign. He scored his first international goal on 11 October 2013 in a 1–1 home draw against Israel, and was named by manager Paulo Bento in the final 23-man squad for the tournament in Brazil.

On 16 June 2014, Costa became the second Portuguese to play in three World Cups after Cristiano Ronaldo did so in the same game, coming on for the second half of the first group stage match against Germany, a 0–4 loss. He was then selected to replace the suspended Pepe in a 2–2 draw with the United States, making a goal-line clearance from Michael Bradley in the second half.

As of 30 January 2016

Club

Porto

• UEFA Champions League: 2003–04
• UEFA Cup: 2002–03
• Intercontinental Cup: 2004
• Primeira Liga: 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07
• Taça de Portugal: 2002–03, 2005–06

Wolfsburg

• Bundesliga: 2008–09

Orders

• Medal of Merit, Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa (House of Braganza)

• "Selecção distinguida pelo Duque de Bragança" [National team honoured by Duke of Bragança] (in Portuguese). Cristiano Ronaldo News. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2006.