PORTUGAL LEGEND
Costinha
Manager
Portugal
Constinha about playing in the Legends Charity Game
“I’ve had the opportunity to play everywhere—from France to Spain and Italy—but nothing compares to Portuguese football. It’s a different beast entirely. Lifting the Champions League trophy with Porto was one of the proudest moments of my career, and to do it while representing my country made it even more special. Now, with over a decade of management experience in Portuguese football, I’m proud to continue that sense of national duty, and to do so, alongside some truly iconic players for such a good cause, makes it all the better.”
About
Known as a tough-tackling defensive midfielder with strong discipline and leadership, Francisco “Costinha” da Silva Oliveira was a key figure for both club and country in the early 2000s. Renowned for his ball-winning ability, tactical intelligence, and calm distribution, he became a key figure for multiple teams in front of the defence.
Costinha’s rise began in Portugal with Machico and Nacional, but it was at FC Porto under José Mourinho where he cemented his reputation. As the anchor of Porto’s midfield, he played a crucial role in their historic Champions League triumph in 2004, complementing the team’s flair with his grit and reliability.
After his Porto success, Costinha enjoyed spells abroad with clubs such as Dynamo Moscow, Atlético Madrid, and AS Monaco, bringing his trademark steel to each side.
On the international stage, he was a regular for Portugal during their “golden generation,” representing the Seleção at two European Championships and the 2006 World Cup, where Portugal reached the semi-finals.
CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
International Level
Portugal UEFA European Championship Runner-up: 2004
FIFA World Cup Fourth place: 2006
UEFA European Championship Appearances: 2000, 2004
FIFA World Cup Appearances: 2006
Club Level
Monaco Ligue 1: 1999–2000
Porto Primeira Liga: 2002–03, 2003–04
Taça de Portugal: 2002–03
Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2001, 2003, 2004
UEFA Cup: 2002–03 UEFA
Champions League: 2003–04 Intercontinental Cup: 2004
Personal Honours
Named in UEFA Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament
Commander of the Order of Merit (Portugal): 2004
INTERNATIONAL CAREER
Portugal (1998 – 2006)
53 apps, 2 goals
CLUB HISTORY
Machico (1995 – 1996) 30 apps, 3 goals
Nacional (1996 – 1997) 30 apps, 4 goals
Monaco (1997 – 2001) 84 apps, 4 goals
Porto (2001 – 2005) 107 apps, 7 goals
Dynamo Moscow (2005 – 2006) 10 apps, 0 goals
Atlético Madrid (2006 – 2007) 24 apps, 0 goals
Atalanta (2007 – 2010) 1 app, 0 goals
Total (1995 – 2010) 286 apps, 18 goals