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 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 top flight, Costa played with Vitória de Setúbal. Subsequently he signed for Germany's Rot-Weiss Oberhausen (division two), remaining in the country for two years and suffering relegation in his second season.
In 2005–06, Costa returned to Portugal and joined U.D. 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. He left the club in the 2011 summer aged nearly 38, and retired shortly after.
Read more about this topic: Hugo Costa
Famous quotes containing the words football and/or career:
“... in the minds of search committees there is the lingering question: Can she manage the football coach?”
—Donna E. Shalala (b. 1941)
“I began my editorial career with the presidency of Mr. Adams, and my principal object was to render his administration all the assistance in my power. I flattered myself with the hope of accompanying him through [his] voyage, and of partaking in a trifling degree, of the glory of the enterprise; but he suddenly tacked about, and I could follow him no longer. I therefore waited for the first opportunity to haul down my sails.”
—William Cobbett (1762–1835)