Rui Costa retires

Monday, 12 May 08, 09:28 PM · Comments (0)

Legendary Portuguese midfielder Rui Costa has brought an end to his illustrious career at the age of 36.

The Lisbon-born Rui Costa impressed Benfica legend Eusebio at the age of ten to win a place in the capital club's youth setup. In 1991 Costa won the youth world cup with Portugal before winning the Cup of Portugal in 1993 and the Portuguese Liga in the 93/94 season with Benfica.

But it was in Italy where the cultured midfielder would become famous. In 1994 Rui Costa joined Italian giants Fiorentina where he would win two Coppa Italia championships and beat out the great Zidane to be named played of the year at his position on multiple occasions. In 2001 Rui Costa made the move north to Milan, Costa would win a plethora of honors with the Rossoneri including the UEFA Champions League.

In 2006 Costa took a sizable pay cut and returned home to Lisbon to end his career at Benfica. Made captain for his final game Rui Costa ended his career by handing his red number 10 shirt to his father.

Rui Costa -

1990-1991: AD Fafe (6 league goals)

1991-1994 & 2006-2008: SL Benfica (23 league goals, Portuguese Liga 1994, Portuguese Cup 1993)

1994-2001: Fiorentina (40 league goals, Coppa Italia 1996, 2001, SuperCoppa de Italia 1996)

2001-2006: AC Milan (7 league goals, Serie A 2004, Coppa Italia 2003, Champions League 2003, European Super Cup 2003)

1993-2004: Portugal (94 caps, 26 goals)

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