Paulo Costinha

Not to be confused with Costinha.

Paulo Costinha

Personal information
Full name	Paulo Rebelo Costinha Castro
Date of birth	(1973-09-22) 22 September 1973
Place of birth	Braga, Portugal
Height
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1984–1988	Braga
1988–1992	Boavista
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1992–1993	Boavista	0	(0)
1993–1997	Sporting CP	76	(0)
1997–1999	Porto	2	(0)
1999–2000	Tenerife	9	(0)
2000–2006	União Leiria	118	(0)
2006–2009	Belenenses	33	(0)
Total		238	(0)
International career
1993	Portugal U20	5	(0)
1993–1995	Portugal U21	15	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paulo Rebelo Costinha Castro (born 22 September 1973), known as Costinha, is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He appeared in 229 Primeira Liga games in 16 seasons, mainly with União de Leiria (six years) and Sporting (four).

Club career

Costinha was born in Braga. A product of Boavista FC's youth system he went on to represent Primeira Liga clubs FC Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal – being mostly a backup player – as well as U.D. Leiria, where he established himself in the top level.

After a short abroad stint with Spain's CD Tenerife, appearing rarely for the Segunda División team, Costinha joined C.F. Os Belenenses for the 2006–07 season. He only was a starter in his first year as he lost his position after the January 2007 arrival of Brazilian Júlio César, being definitely released in the 2009 summer without any further league appearances and retiring shortly after, aged nearly 36.

International career

Costinha represented Portugal at the 1996 Summer Olympics, playing in three matches out of six as the national side finished in fourth place.

Previously, he appeared in all the games at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship in Australia, with the under-20s losing all three group stage matches (five goals conceded).

External links

• Paulo Costinha at footballzz.co.uk
• Paulo Costinha profile at ForaDeJogo
• Paulo Costinha profile at BDFutbol