Franco Costanzo
Encyclopedia
Franco Costanzo is an Argentine
international
football
goalkeeper, who plays now for Olympiacos Piraeus FC. He has earned the reputation of being an eccentric goalkeeper by often dribbling the ball past the opposition's strikers and by making somewhat unorthodox saves. Early in his career, Costanzo was once considered an excellent prospect; however, due to a few lengthy injuries, he has only recently managed to fulfill his full potential.
giants Club Atlético River Plate
in 2000 and made his first-team debut in 2001. He had become the first choice goalkeeper by 2002 and was looked upon by many as one of the most talented goalkeepers in South America
. However, injury started to plague him and when he returned from the sidelines, Germán Lux had established himself as River Plate's Number 1. His search for first-team action then took him to Spain's La Liga
as he transferred to Deportivo Alavés
in 2005. He was first choice at Alavés straight away, but when they were relegated into the Segunda División
, he asked the manager, José María Salmerón, to be put on the transfer list.
Swiss side
FC Basel
acquired his services in July 2006 for £1.4 million after the departure of veteran goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbühler
. His Basel career did not get off to a great start; he made a blunder in his first match against FC St. Gallen
on 30 July 2006 in the 3:2 away defeat. However, he played excellent in the second half of the 2006/07 season and was voted the FCB Player of the Year. He earned much praise during the 2007/08 season
for his form as Basel became Champions and especially for his part in helping the team earn a valuable UEFA Cup
away point against NK Dinamo Zagreb in the hostile atmosphere of the Maksimir Stadium
on 8 November 2007.
On 17 July 2008, the day before the Swiss Super League 2008-09
season kicked off, he was named Basel captain and he signed a new contract until 2011. His first game as captain was on 18 July 2008, in a 2–1 win over BSC Young Boys
at the Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf
, in which he was named Man of the Match.
On August 9, 2009, Costanzo and team-mate Beg Ferati
were involved in a scuffle after a 1–1 with FC Zürich. The pair began arguing on the pitch, and then Ferati shoved Costanzo who responded by pulling Ferati's hair. Other players then pulled them apart before the situation escalated. Costanzo was fined by the club and given a three match ban by the Swiss Football Association
.
Costanzo played for FC Basel for five years, in which time they won the Swiss Cup three times and the national Championship
also three times. He also played twice in the Champions League group-stages in the 2008/09 season and the 2010/2011 season where FC Basel did a couple of huge sensations like the draw in the Nou Camp in Barcelona where they tied 1-1 or in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome where they beat AS Roma 3-1. During this period he played 141 league games, including cup and international games he had over 200 club appearances. He played his last match for the team on 25 May 2011 and was substituted out in the 87th Minute to a standing ovation. He was replaced by his designated successor Yann Sommer
.
On June 9, 2011 it was revealed that Costanzo came to an agreement with Greek champions Olympiacos FC for a 3-year contract.
Costanzo was an internationalist at Under-20 level and was part of the Argentina squad
at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
. He made his full-international debut in Argentina's
4–2 World Cup Qualifying
win over Uruguay
at the River Plate Stadium on October 9, 2004.
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Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
international
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper, who plays now for Olympiacos Piraeus FC. He has earned the reputation of being an eccentric goalkeeper by often dribbling the ball past the opposition's strikers and by making somewhat unorthodox saves. Early in his career, Costanzo was once considered an excellent prospect; however, due to a few lengthy injuries, he has only recently managed to fulfill his full potential.
Football career
Costanzo started playing professionally with Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
giants Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
in 2000 and made his first-team debut in 2001. He had become the first choice goalkeeper by 2002 and was looked upon by many as one of the most talented goalkeepers in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. However, injury started to plague him and when he returned from the sidelines, Germán Lux had established himself as River Plate's Number 1. His search for first-team action then took him to Spain's La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
as he transferred to Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
in 2005. He was first choice at Alavés straight away, but when they were relegated into the Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, he asked the manager, José María Salmerón, to be put on the transfer list.
Swiss side
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
FC Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
acquired his services in July 2006 for £1.4 million after the departure of veteran goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbühler
Pascal Zuberbühler
Pascal Zuberbühler is a Swiss footballer who is currently the goalkeeping coach for the Philippines. He was recently released by Fulham after coming to the end of his contract.-Club career:...
. His Basel career did not get off to a great start; he made a blunder in his first match against FC St. Gallen
FC St. Gallen
Football Club St. Gallen 1879 is a Swiss football club based in St. Gallen. The club is currently playing in the 2011/12 Swiss Challenge League.-Brief history:...
on 30 July 2006 in the 3:2 away defeat. However, he played excellent in the second half of the 2006/07 season and was voted the FCB Player of the Year. He earned much praise during the 2007/08 season
Swiss Super League 2007-08
-End of season:Last updated 10 May 2008Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points...
for his form as Basel became Champions and especially for his part in helping the team earn a valuable UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
away point against NK Dinamo Zagreb in the hostile atmosphere of the Maksimir Stadium
Maksimir Stadium
Maksimir Stadium is a stadium in the Croatian capital of Zagreb. It takes its name from the neighbourhood of Maksimir. It is primarily the home of Dinamo Zagreb, the top football team in the country. It is also home to Dinamo Zagreb's farm team NK Lokomotiva....
on 8 November 2007.
On 17 July 2008, the day before the Swiss Super League 2008-09
Swiss Super League 2008-09
Swiss Super League 2008–09 is the 112th season of top-tier football in Switzerland. The competition is officially named AXPO Super League due to sponsoring purposes. It began on 18 July 2008 with a match between Young Boys Bern and reigning champions FC Basel, which the latter won by 2–1...
season kicked off, he was named Basel captain and he signed a new contract until 2011. His first game as captain was on 18 July 2008, in a 2–1 win over BSC Young Boys
BSC Young Boys
Berner Sport Club Young Boys 1898 is a Swiss sporting club based in the capital city of Bern. The name is often abbreviated to YB . Abroad, YB is often referred to as Young Boys Bern. The club's colors are yellow and black....
at the Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf
Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf
The Stade de Suisse Wankdorf is a football stadium in Bern, Switzerland.It is the home ground of the Swiss football team BSC Young Boys, and is currently the second biggest all-seater football stadium in Switzerland....
, in which he was named Man of the Match.
On August 9, 2009, Costanzo and team-mate Beg Ferati
Beg Ferati
Beg Ferati is a Swiss footballer of Kosovar Albanian descent who plays as a defender for SC Freiburg of the German Bundesliga.-Football career:...
were involved in a scuffle after a 1–1 with FC Zürich. The pair began arguing on the pitch, and then Ferati shoved Costanzo who responded by pulling Ferati's hair. Other players then pulled them apart before the situation escalated. Costanzo was fined by the club and given a three match ban by the Swiss Football Association
Swiss Football Association
The Swiss Football Association is the governing body of football in Switzerland. It organizes the football league, the Swiss Football League, and the Switzerland national football team. It is based in Bern....
.
Costanzo played for FC Basel for five years, in which time they won the Swiss Cup three times and the national Championship
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
also three times. He also played twice in the Champions League group-stages in the 2008/09 season and the 2010/2011 season where FC Basel did a couple of huge sensations like the draw in the Nou Camp in Barcelona where they tied 1-1 or in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome where they beat AS Roma 3-1. During this period he played 141 league games, including cup and international games he had over 200 club appearances. He played his last match for the team on 25 May 2011 and was substituted out in the 87th Minute to a standing ovation. He was replaced by his designated successor Yann Sommer
Yann Sommer
Yann Sommer is a Swiss footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for FC Basel in the Swiss Super League.-Club career:...
.
On June 9, 2011 it was revealed that Costanzo came to an agreement with Greek champions Olympiacos FC for a 3-year contract.
Costanzo was an internationalist at Under-20 level and was part of the Argentina squad
Argentina national under-20 football team
The Argentina national under-20 football team is the representative of Argentina in FIFA sponsored tournaments that pertain to that age level....
at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Nigeria between April 3 and April 24, 1999. The 1999 championship was the 12th contested.- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.-Squads:...
. He made his full-international debut in Argentina's
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
4–2 World Cup Qualifying
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for South America. 10 teams took part, all in a single group. The rules were very simple: the teams would play against each other in a home-and-away basis, with the four teams with most points qualifying to...
win over Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
at the River Plate Stadium on October 9, 2004.
National team statistics
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Titles
| Season | Club | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Clausura 2002 |  River PlateClub Atlético River Plate Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.... |
Primera Division Argentina Primera División Argentina The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs... |
| Clausura 2003 | River Plate Club Atlético River Plate Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.... |
Primera Division Argentina Primera División Argentina The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs... |
| Clausura 2004 | River Plate Club Atlético River Plate Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.... |
Primera Division Argentina Primera División Argentina The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs... |
| 2006–2007 |  FC BaselFC Basel Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the... |
Swiss Cup |
| 2007–2008 Swiss Cup 2007-08 The Swiss Cup 2007-08 is the eighty-third season of Switzerland's football knockout competition. The winner was FC Basel. AC Bellinzona qualified for the UEFA Cup after finishing as runner-up due to Basel qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.... |
FC Basel FC Basel Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the... |
Swiss Cup |
| 2007–2008 Swiss Super League 2007-08 -End of season:Last updated 10 May 2008Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points... |
FC Basel FC Basel Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the... |
Swiss Super League Swiss Super League The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams... |
| 2009–2010 | FC Basel FC Basel Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the... |
Swiss Cup |
| 2009–2010 | FC Basel FC Basel Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the... |
Swiss Super League Swiss Super League The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams... |
| 2010–2011 | FC Basel FC Basel Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the... |
Swiss Super League Swiss Super League The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams... |