Hugo Costa
Encyclopedia
Hugo Alexandre Esteves Costa (born 4 November 1973 in Tramagal
, Abrantes) is a Portuguese
footballer who plays for C.D. Pinhalnovense as a central defender.
In the 1996 summer, he signed with Stoke City
in the English
second level
, but left the Potters after only a couple of weeks and games, returning to his country with F.C. Alverca
and remaining with the Lisbon
outskirts club for the following five seasons, three spent in the top flight.
From 2001–03, also as first-choice and in the first division, Costa played with Vitória de Setúbal
. Subsequently, he signed for Germany
's Rot-Weiss Oberhausen (second level
), remaining in the country for two years, and suffering relegation in his second season.
In 2005–06, Costa returned to Portugal and joined União de Leiria, playing in only 16 matches in the top division in three seasons combined - 12 of those came in his last, with the club ranking 16th and last. Afterwards, the 34 year-old moved to Cyprus
with Atromitos Yeroskipou
.
After just one season, Costa once again returned to his country, joining lowly C.D. Pinhalnovense.
Tramagal
Tramagal is a Portuguese parish, located in Abrantes Municipality, in Santarém District. The parish has a population of 4,043 and a total area of 24.06 km². The parish is the second-most populous in the municipality....
, Abrantes) is a Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
footballer who plays for C.D. Pinhalnovense as a central defender.
Football career
A graduate of S.L. Benfica's youth system, Costa never appeared however for its first team, going on to spend the following four seasons in the top division with Gil Vicente FC, S.C. Beira-Mar (two years) and C.F. Estrela da Amadora, being relegated with the Aveiro side in the 1994–95 campaign.In the 1996 summer, he signed with Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
second level
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, but left the Potters after only a couple of weeks and games, returning to his country with F.C. Alverca
F.C. Alverca
Futebol Clube de Alverca is a Portuguese football club based in Alverca do Ribatejo, Vila Franca de Xira, Lisbon. Founded on 1 September 1939, it currently plays in the Lisbon District Championships.-History:...
and remaining with the Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
outskirts club for the following five seasons, three spent in the top flight.
From 2001–03, also as first-choice and in the first division, Costa played with Vitória de Setúbal
Vitória F.C.
Vitória Futebol Clube is a Portuguese sports club from the city of Setúbal. Popularly known as Vitória de Setúbal with the motto "A Vitória será nossa" .- Domestic :*Portuguese Liga: Runners-up 1971–72...
. Subsequently, he signed for Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's Rot-Weiss Oberhausen (second level
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
), remaining in the country for two years, and suffering relegation in his second season.
In 2005–06, Costa returned to Portugal and joined União de Leiria, playing in only 16 matches in the top division in three seasons combined - 12 of those came in his last, with the club ranking 16th and last. Afterwards, the 34 year-old moved to Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
with Atromitos Yeroskipou
Atromitos Yeroskipou
Atromitos Yeroskipou is a football team currently playing in the Cypriot Second Division.The team was established in the town of Yeroskipou, Paphos. The club was founded in 1956 but the club was competing until 2004 in Paphos local league. The club was promoted to Cypriot's Football Association...
.
After just one season, Costa once again returned to his country, joining lowly C.D. Pinhalnovense.