Diego da Silva Costa
Encyclopedia
Diego da Silva Costa is a Brazil
ian footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid in the Spanish first division
, as a striker.
, being limited to street football until the age of 16. His first professional adventure was in Portugal
, as he signed in February 2006 with Sporting de Braga, after which he spent the following months with the club's reserves.
In the 2006 summer, Costa was loaned to F.C. Penafiel, in the second division
. In December, however, he was sold to Spain's Atlético Madrid, for €1.5 million and 50% of the player's rights. He remained on loan at Braga until the end of the season, scoring his first goal for the club in the UEFA Cup, a 1–0 win at Parma FC
(2–0 on aggregate). For the following two years, he would be again loaned, on both occasions to Segunda División
outfits, starting with Celta de Vigo
, then with Albacete Balompié
, appearing and scoring regularly.
On 8 July 2009, Costa was sold to Real Valladolid
as part of the deal that sent goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo
in the opposite direction, with the transfer including a buy-back option that could be activated by Atlético at the end of the season
. He started strong for the Castile and León
side, scoring six times in his first 12 matches, but only found the net once in the following five 1/2 months, as the campaign eventually ended in La Liga
relegation.
In June 2010, Costa returned to the Colchoneros, for a fee of €1 million, initially as a backup to Sergio Agüero
and Diego Forlán
. On 26 September, benefitting from injury to the Argentine
(who was sitting on the substitutes bench), he scored the game's only goal, at home against Real Zaragoza
. On 3 April of the following year, already as a starter after manager Quique Flores demoted the Uruguay
an from his position, he scored all of his team's goals in a 3–2 win at CA Osasuna
.
In late July 2011, during Atlético's preseason, Costa suffered a serious knee
injury, going on to miss the majority of the season
.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid in the Spanish first division
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, as a striker.
Football career
Costa started his career at Barcelona Esportivo Capela, in São PauloSão Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
, being limited to street football until the age of 16. His first professional adventure was in 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...
, as he signed in February 2006 with Sporting de Braga, after which he spent the following months with the club's reserves.
In the 2006 summer, Costa was loaned to F.C. Penafiel, in the second division
Liga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
. In December, however, he was sold to Spain's Atlético Madrid, for €1.5 million and 50% of the player's rights. He remained on loan at Braga until the end of the season, scoring his first goal for the club in the UEFA Cup, a 1–0 win at Parma FC
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
(2–0 on aggregate). For the following two years, he would be again loaned, on both occasions to Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
outfits, starting with Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
, then with Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Albacete, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Founded on August 2, 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Carlos Belmonte, with a 17,300-seat capacity.-History:The club was founded...
, appearing and scoring regularly.
On 8 July 2009, Costa was sold to Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
as part of the deal that sent goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo
Sergio Asenjo
Sergio Asenjo Andrés is a Spanish footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid as a goalkeeper.-Club career:Born in Palencia, Castile and León, Asenjo began playing in Real Valladolid junior teams, and soon emerged as one of the most talented players in the club...
in the opposite direction, with the transfer including a buy-back option that could be activated by Atlético at the end of the season
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
. He started strong for the Castile and León
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in north-western Spain. It was so constituted in 1983 and it comprises the historical regions of León and Old Castile...
side, scoring six times in his first 12 matches, but only found the net once in the following five 1/2 months, as the campaign eventually ended in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
relegation.
In June 2010, Costa returned to the Colchoneros, for a fee of €1 million, initially as a backup to Sergio Agüero
Sergio Agüero
Sergio Leonel "Kun" Agüero del Castillo is an Argentine footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester City in England's Premier League and the Argentine national team....
and Diego Forlán
Diego Forlán
Diego Forlán Corazo is an Uruguayan footballer who plays as a striker for Internazionale and the Uruguayan national team. He is a two-time winner of both the Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe, and also received the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2010 World Cup.Forlán was born...
. On 26 September, benefitting from injury to the Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
(who was sitting on the substitutes bench), he scored the game's only goal, at home against Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
. On 3 April of the following year, already as a starter after manager Quique Flores demoted the Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an from his position, he scored all of his team's goals in a 3–2 win at CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
.
In late July 2011, during Atlético's preseason, Costa suffered a serious knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injury, going on to miss the majority of the season
2011–12 La Liga
The 2011–12 La Liga season is the 81st since its establishment. Barcelona are the defending champions, having won their 21st La Liga title in the previous season for the third time in a row. The campaign began on 27 August 2011, and will end on 13 May 2012...
.
Club statistics
- (correct as of 3 April 2011)
Club Season Domestic League Domestic Cup Continental Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Penafiel 2006–07 13 5 – – 0 0 13 5 Braga 7 0 – – 2 1 9 1 Celta Celta de VigoReal Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...2007–08 30 5 0 0 – – 30 5 Albacete Albacete BalompiéAlbacete Balompié, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Albacete, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Founded on August 2, 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Carlos Belmonte, with a 17,300-seat capacity.-History:The club was founded...2008–09 35 10 0 0 – – 35 10 Valladolid Real ValladolidReal Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....2009–10 2009–10 La Liga- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...34 7 2 1 – – 36 8 Atlético Madrid 2010–11 2010–11 La LigaThe 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...23 6 5 1 6 1 34 8 Total 142 33 7 2 8 2 157 37