Armando Costa (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Armando Costa (born 1949 in Bombarral
, Portugal
) is a Canadian immigrant, Portugese
musician, soccer coach and retired player. He is currently the head coach and Director of Soccer Operations for Brampton City United FC of the Canadian Soccer League
.
in central Portugal
. He immigrated to Canada
, settling in Toronto
in 1968 at the age of 18. He is married and has two daughters. Armando has made a living of both playing and coaching soccer, but has also sold real estate
.
as a youth. After immigrating to Canada
in 1968, Costa continued his senior career playing for Toronto First Portugese of the Canadian National Soccer League
until 1984, becoming the longest serving player in the league and winning a championship with the club. Costa joined the Buffalo Stallions
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
for two seasons, from 1980 to 1982, retiring shortly after.
championship in 1990. He would join the coaching staff of the Canadian Professional Soccer League
's Toronto Blizzard the following year in 1991. Costa took over the Ontario Soccer Association
's High Performance Academy from 1993 to 1997. He spent one season on the coaching staff of the Toronto Lynx
in 1998 before making a trip to Libya
at the request of Olympic
sprinter Ben Johnson
in 1999.
Costa, along with a physiotherapist and nutritionist, would join Johnson as the personal coaches to Al-Saadi al-Gaddafi, son of Libyan
leader Muammar Gaddafi
. Costa would coach and befriend the young Gaddafi during his time with Italian
side Perugia Calcio
, and with the Libyan national football team, eventually becoming the Youth National Teams Technical Director from 2000 to 2005. During this time, Costa was also the head coach of U-17 and U-20 Libyan Olympic teams.
Following his time in Libya
, Costa returned home and, after a brief period away from an official role, became the head coach and Director of Soccer Operations for Brampton City United FC of the Canadian Soccer League
in 2008.
singer, Costa released an album in 1969, entitled "Sou quem Sou" (I am who I am).
Bombarral
Bombarral is a Portuguese municipality in the Oeste Subregion and Leiria District, of central Portugal. With an area of and approximately 13,325 inhabitants , it includes five civil parishes that provide local services...
, Portugal
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...
) is a Canadian immigrant, Portugese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
musician, soccer coach and retired player. He is currently the head coach and Director of Soccer Operations for Brampton City United FC of the Canadian Soccer League
Canadian Soccer League
The Canadian Soccer League is the top soccer league in Canada and is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League , and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006...
.
History
Armando Costa, also known as Rilhas, was born in 1949 in the village of BombarralBombarral
Bombarral is a Portuguese municipality in the Oeste Subregion and Leiria District, of central Portugal. With an area of and approximately 13,325 inhabitants , it includes five civil parishes that provide local services...
in central Portugal
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...
. He immigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, settling in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1968 at the age of 18. He is married and has two daughters. Armando has made a living of both playing and coaching soccer, but has also sold real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
.
Playing career
Armando began his soccer career early, playing for the local team, Bombarralense, in PortugalPortugal
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...
as a youth. After immigrating to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1968, Costa continued his senior career playing for Toronto First Portugese of the Canadian National Soccer League
Canadian National Soccer League
The Canadian National Soccer League, known as the National Soccer League until 1993, was a professional soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997...
until 1984, becoming the longest serving player in the league and winning a championship with the club. Costa joined the Buffalo Stallions
Buffalo Stallions
The Buffalo Stallions were a soccer team based out of Buffalo, New York that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 to 1984. Their home arena was Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.-History:...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Indoor Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League was the top professional indoor soccer league in the USA. The league was a member of both the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA. The MISL had replaced the NPSL which folded in 2001. According to MISL.net, the league has ceased operations as of May 31, 2008...
for two seasons, from 1980 to 1982, retiring shortly after.
Coaching career
After retiring from the professional game, Armando earned his certified "A" coaching license and started his coaching career as head of his old club, Toronto First Portugese, leading the team to an NSLCanadian National Soccer League
The Canadian National Soccer League, known as the National Soccer League until 1993, was a professional soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997...
championship in 1990. He would join the coaching staff of the Canadian Professional Soccer League
Canadian Professional Soccer League
The first Canadian Professional Soccer League lasted for just one summer season, 1983.The league featured the Edmonton Eagles, Hamilton Steelers, Inter-Montreal FC, Mississauga Croatia SC, Calgary Mustangs, Toronto National. Edmonton defeated Hamilton 2-0 in the final.Prominent players included...
's Toronto Blizzard the following year in 1991. Costa took over the Ontario Soccer Association
Ontario Soccer Association
The Ontario Soccer Association was founded in 1901 and is one of the oldest and largest sport organizations in Canada dedicated to providing an opportunity for Ontarians to achieve their sporting goals through soccer. The OSA provides leadership, consultation and resources to the members within...
's High Performance Academy from 1993 to 1997. He spent one season on the coaching staff of the Toronto Lynx
Toronto Lynx
Toronto Lynx is a Canadian soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference....
in 1998 before making a trip to Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
at the request of Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
sprinter Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson or Benjamin Johnson may refer to:* Ben Johnson , American actor* Ben Johnson , former American football offensive tackle of the National Football League...
in 1999.
Costa, along with a physiotherapist and nutritionist, would join Johnson as the personal coaches to Al-Saadi al-Gaddafi, son of Libyan
Libyan
A Libyan is a person or thing of, from, or related to Libya in North Africa.The term Libyan may also refer to:* A person from Libya, or of Libyan descent. For information about the Libyan people, see Demographics of Libya and Culture of Libya. For specific persons, see List of Libyans.* Libyan...
leader Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
. Costa would coach and befriend the young Gaddafi during his time with Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
side Perugia Calcio
Perugia Calcio
Associazione Calcistica Perugia Calcio is an Italian association football club based in Perugia, Umbria, direct heir of the old Perugia Calcio and A.C. Perugia, excluded from Italian football because of financial troubles....
, and with the Libyan national football team, eventually becoming the Youth National Teams Technical Director from 2000 to 2005. During this time, Costa was also the head coach of U-17 and U-20 Libyan Olympic teams.
Following his time in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Costa returned home and, after a brief period away from an official role, became the head coach and Director of Soccer Operations for Brampton City United FC of the Canadian Soccer League
Canadian Soccer League
The Canadian Soccer League is the top soccer league in Canada and is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League , and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006...
in 2008.
Musical career
As a traditional PortugesePortuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
singer, Costa released an album in 1969, entitled "Sou quem Sou" (I am who I am).