Gustavo Adolfo Costas Makeira (born 28 February 1963) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a centre-back. He is the current head coach of Primera División club Racing Club.

Gustavo Costas
Costas in 2012
Personal information
Full name Gustavo Adolfo Costas Makeira
Date of birth (1963-02-28) 28 February 1963 (age 61)
Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Racing Club (head coach)
Youth career
Racing Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1981–1989 Racing Club
1989–1992 Locarno 45 (3)
1992–1996 Racing Club
1996–1997 Gimnasia de Jujuy 34 (1)
Managerial career
1998–1999 Racing Club (youth)
1999–2000 Racing Club
2001–2003 Guaraní
2003–2004 Alianza Lima
2005–2006 Cerro Porteño
2007 Racing Club
2008 Olimpia
2009–2011 Alianza Lima
2011 Al Nassr
2012–2013 Barcelona SC
2014–2015 Santa Fe
2016 Atlas
2016–2017 Santa Fe
2017–2018 Al-Fayha
2019–2021 Guaraní
2022 Palestino
2022–2023 Bolivia
2024– Racing Club
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Costas' career is mainly linked to Racing Club, where he played for twelve seasons in two different spells, and coached in three different spells. He has also coached in Paraguay, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, Chile and Bolivia.

Playing career

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Costas with Racing Club in 1986

Born in Buenos Aires, Costas was a Racing Club youth graduate. After making his first team debut in 1981, he saw the club's first-ever relegation from the Primera División from the stands, as he was nursing a knee injury.[1]

Costas became a key part of the team that won promotion back to the top tier in 1985, acting as team captain.[2] He later helped La Academia to win the 1988 Supercopa Libertadores, their first major title in 21 years, they then went on to win the less prestigious Supercopa Interamaricana.

Costas moved abroad in 1989, joining Swiss team Locarno. He returned to Racing in 1992, playing for four seasons before moving to Gimnasia de Jujuy in 1996, where he played until his retirement in 1997 at the age of 34.[3]

Costas played 337 matches for Racing, scoring nine goals. He became the footballer with the most appearances for the club in the professional era, and the second of their entire history (only behind Natalio Perinetti's 407 matches in the amateur era).[1]

Managerial career

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Early career

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After retiring, Costas joined the youth categories of his main club Racing, before being named manager of the first team along with Humberto Maschio on 17 December 1998.[4] The duo left on 23 May 2000, after a 3–0 loss to Lanús.[5]

On 1 July 2001, Costas moved to Paraguay after being named manager of Guaraní.[6] On 9 April 2003, after having altercations with the club's vice-president Juan Alberto Acosta, he resigned.[7]

Alianza Lima

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Shortly after leaving Guaraní, Costas was presented at Peruvian side Alianza Lima on 18 April 2003.[8] He immediately led them to success in the 2003 Clausura, and then saw his team win the Primera División Peruana final against Sporting Cristal.

In 2004, Costas led Alianza to the Apertura 2004 title and another chance to win the final of the Primera División where they again defeated Sporting Cristal, this time 5–4 on penalties.[9]

Cerro Porteño

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Costas left Alianza in December 2004 to return to Paraguay, where he took over Cerro Porteño. Under his leadership the club won both the Apertura and Clausura in 2005 to be crowned undisputed national champions.

Costas resigned from Cerro on 24 April 2007, after disagreeing with an interview from club president Luis Pettengill.[10]

Racing Club return

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On 27 April 2007, Costas agreed to return to Racing Club for his second spell in charge of La Academia.[11] He was sacked on 2 December, after a poor Apertura overall.[12]

Olimpia

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On 12 December 2007, Costas signed a two-year contract to manage Olimpia back in Paraguay.[13] The following 29 August, after a 4–0 loss to Universidad Católica, he was dismissed.[14]

Alianza Lima return

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On 19 December 2008, Costas agreed to return to Alianza Lima on a two-year contract.[15] He led the club to the 2009 Torneo Descentralizado finals, losing to Universitario.

Al Nassr

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On 18 July 2011, Costas resigned from Alianza to sign for Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia.[16][17] He was dismissed on 30 November, with the club sitting 6th in the league table.

Barcelona SC

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On 11 April 2012, Costas switched teams and countries again, after being announced as manager of Ecuadorian side Barcelona SC on a one-year deal.[18] He won the first stage which secured Barcelona a spot to the 2012 Copa Sudamericana, 2013 Copa Libertadores and the third stage of the Ecuadorian Serie A.[19] On 2 December, Barcelona won the second stage, automatically becoming the champion of the 2012 Ecuadorian Serie A.[20]

On 6 December 2012, Costas extended his contract with Barcelona until December 2013.[21] He departed on 12 August 2013, after a poor run of results.[22]

Santa Fe

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On 16 May 2014, after nearly one year without a club, Costas was appointed manager of Colombian club Independiente Santa Fe.[23] He led the club to the 2014 Finalización title, but resigned the following 30 May, after elimination from the 2015 Copa Libertadores.[24]

Atlas

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On 27 November 2015, Costas replaced Gustavo Matosas at the helm of Liga MX side Atlas.[25] He was sacked the following 27 April, two matches before the end of the 2016 Clausura tournament.[26]

Santa Fe return

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On 21 July 2016, Santa Fe announced the return of Costas as manager.[27] He won the 2016 Suruga Bank Championship and the 2016 Finalización titles, aside from also lifting the 2017 Superliga Colombiana.

Costas resigned from Santa Fe on 9 June 2017, after a poor 2017 Apertura.[28]

Al-Fayha

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On 1 November 2017, Costas replaced Constantin Gâlcă as manager of Al-Fayha back in Saudi Arabia.[29] He was sacked on 15 October of the following year, with the club in the relegation zone.[30]

Guaraní return

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On 6 June 2019, Costas agreed to return to Guaraní after 16 years, being presented four days later.[31] He left by mutual consent on 28 May 2021, after a poor 2021 Apertura tournament.[32]

Palestino

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On 20 December 2021, Costas replaced compatriot Patricio Graff as manager of Chilean club Palestino.[33]

Bolivia national team

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On 19 August 2022, Costas confirmed as manager of the Bolivia national team, effective as the following November, once his season with Palestino ended.[34] On 23 October 2023, after a poor start in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, he was sacked.[35]

Third spell at Racing

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On 15 December 2023, Costas was officially announced as manager of Racing for his third spell.[36] On 24 November 2024, he won the year's Copa Sudamericana with the club, their first international title in 36 years.

Managerial statistics

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As of 14 December 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L Win %
Racing Club   17 December 1999 23 May 2000 50 14 18 18 028.0
Guaraní   1 July 2001 9 April 2003 62 25 12 25 040.3
Alianza Lima   18 April 2003 11 December 2004 94 54 20 20 057.4
Cerro Porteño   11 December 2004 24 April 2007 117 67 26 24 057.3
Racing Club   5 May 2007 4 December 2007 24 9 5 10 037.5
Olimpia   1 January 2008 29 August 2008 29 9 6 14 031.0
Alianza Lima   1 January 2009 17 July 2011 118 58 29 31 049.2
Al Nassr   18 July 2011 30 November 2011 10 4 2 4 040.0
Barcelona SC   11 April 2012 12 August 2013 76 33 24 19 043.4
Santa Fe   16 May 2014 30 May 2015 75 41 16 18 054.7
Atlas   27 November 2015 27 April 2016 21 4 5 12 019.0
Santa Fe   21 July 2016 9 June 2017 60 25 20 15 041.7
Al-Fayha   6 November 2017 15 October 2018 25 10 7 8 040.0
Guaraní   1 June 2019 14 June 2021 100 49 23 28 049.0
Palestino   1 January 2022 13 November 2022 32 13 10 9 040.6
Bolivia   14 November 2022 23 October 2023 10 1 1 8 010.0
Racing Club   15 December 2023 present 56 32 8 16 057.1
Total 959 449 232 278 046.8

Honours

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Player

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Racing Club

Manager

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Alianza Lima

Cerro Porteño

Barcelona

Santa Fe

Racing Club

References

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  1. ^ a b "Mascota, ídolo y campeón: la historia de Gustavo Costas con Racing, el club de sus amores" [Mascot, idol and champion: the story of Gustavo Costas with Racing, the club of his heart] (in Spanish). ESPN. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  2. ^ "La historia de Gustavo Costas, el técnico fanático de Racing que le dio la Copa Sudamericana al club de sus amores" [The story of Gustavo Costas, Racing's fanatic manager who gave the Copa Sudamericana to the club of his heart] (in Spanish). Infobae. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Gustavo Costas, el técnico con ADN celeste y blanco que relanzó a Racing argentino" [Gustavo Costas, the manager with a sky blue-and-white DNA who relaunched the Argentine Racing] (in Spanish). La Razón. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Maschio y Costas, bendecidos" [Maschio and Costas, blessed] (in Spanish). Página 12. 17 December 1998. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  5. ^ "La crisis de Racing sumó un golpe más: se fueron Costas y Maschio" [Racing's crisis took another blow: Costas and Maschio left] (in Spanish). La Nación. 23 May 2000. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Gustavo Costas dirigirá a Guaraní de Asunción" [Gustavo Costas will manage Guaraní from Asunción] (in Spanish). La Capital. 1 July 2001. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Costas ya no es DT de Guaraní" [Costas is no longer manager of Guaraní] (in Spanish). ABC Color. 9 April 2003. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Gustavo Costas: el bicampeón con Alianza Lima que fue presentado un Viernes Santo" [Gustavo Costas: the two-time champion with Alianza Lima who was presented in a Good Friday] (in Spanish). El Comercio. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  9. ^ "La historia de Gustavo Costas en su paso por Perú" [The story of Gustavo Costas in his period in Peru] (in Spanish). Cápsulas. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Gustavo Costas, enojado, deja la conducción técnica de Cerro" [Gustavo Costas, angry, leaves the technical management of Cerro] (in Spanish). Última Hora. 24 April 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Gustavo Costas es el nuevo técnico de Racing" [Gustavo Costas is the new manager of Racing] (in Spanish). Infobae. 27 April 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  12. ^ "Gustavo Costas dejó de ser el técnico de Racing" [Gustavo Costas ceased to be the manager of Racing] (in Spanish). Infobae. 2 December 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  13. ^ "Costas ya es técnico de Olimpia" [Costas is already the manager of Olimpia] (in Spanish). ABC Color. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Gustavo Costas fue desvinculado de Olimpia" [Gustavo Costas was fired from Olimpia] (in Spanish). ABC Color. 29 August 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  15. ^ "Gustavo Costas dirigirá al Alianza Lima hasta el 2010" [Gustavo Costas will manage Alianza Lima until 2010] (in Spanish). ABC Color. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  16. ^ "Gustavo Costas deja Alianza Lima para dirigir Al-Nassr de Arabia Saudí" [Gustavo Costas leaves Alianza Lima to manage Al-Nassr from Saudi Arabia] (in Spanish). ABC Color. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  17. ^ "رسميا .. الأرجنتيني جوستافو كوستاس مدربا للنصر" [Official.. Argentine Gustavo Costas is the coach of Al-Nassr] (in Arabic). Yallakora. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  18. ^ "Gustavo Costas: Nuevo entrenador de Barcelona S.C." [Gustavo Costas: new manager of Barcelona S.C.] (in Spanish). Barcelona SC. 11 April 2012. Archived from the original on 13 April 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  19. ^ Barcelona de dt costas gana primera fase de torneo ecuatoriano[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ ¡Barcelona Campeón!
  21. ^ "Gustavo Costas extiende su contrato con Barcelona hasta diciembre del 2013" [Gustavo Costas extends his contract with Barcelona until December 2013] (in Spanish). El Universo. 6 December 2012.
  22. ^ "Barcelona sin Costas y sigue en la crisis de resultados" [Barcelona without Costas and remain in the crisis of results] (in Spanish). El Comercio. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  23. ^ "Gustavo Costas es el nuevo DT del Santa Fe colombiano" [Gustavo Costas is the new manager of Colombian Santa Fe] (in Spanish). El Universo. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  24. ^ "Gustavo Costas renunció al Santa Fe y lo reemplazará Gerardo Pelusso" [Gustavo Costas resigned from Santa Fe and Gerardo Pelusso will replace him] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  25. ^ "Gustavo Costas, nuevo entrenador de Atlas" [Gustavo Costas, new manager of Atlas] (in Spanish). Marca. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Gustavo Costas deja cargo como DT de Atlas" [Gustavo Costas leaves post as manager of Atlas] (in Spanish). Milenio. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  27. ^ "Oficial: Costas vuelve a Santa Fe, dueño de los clásicos y la octava" [Official: Costas return to Santa Fe, the owner of derbys and the eighth title] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  28. ^ "Oficial: Gustavo Costas deja de ser el técnico de Santa Fe" [Official: Gustavo Costas ceases to be the manager of Santa Fe] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  29. ^ "الأرجنتيني غوستافو مدرباً للفيحاء خلفاً لجالكا" (in Arabic). alfaiha. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  30. ^ "مجلس الإدارة يقرر إقالة غوستافو كوستاس" (in Arabic). alfaiha. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  31. ^ "Comenzó el segundo ciclo de Gustavo Costas" [The second spell of Gustavo Costas started] (in Spanish). ABC Color. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  32. ^ "Gustavo Costas deja la dirección técnica de Guaraní" [Gustavo Costas leaves the technical direction of Guaraní] (in Spanish). D10 Paraguay. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  33. ^ "¡Palestino da el gran golpe del mercado! Confirma como su nuevo entrenador al laureado Gustavo Costas" [Palestino deal the market's big blow! They confirm the laureate Gustavo Costas as their new manager] (in Spanish). RedGol. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  34. ^ "Gustavo Costas firmó como nuevo entrenador de Bolivia: "Cambiemos la mentalidad"" [Gustavo Costas signed as new manager of Bolivia: "We will switch the mentality"] (in Spanish). ESPN. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  35. ^ "Gustavos Costas dejó de ser el entrenador de la selección de Bolivia" [Gustavo Costas ceased to be the manager of the Bolivia national team] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  36. ^ "Racing hizo oficial la llegada de Gustavo Costas como DT, con un año de contrato: "Vamos por todo"" [Racing turned official the arrival of Gustavo Costas as manager, with a one-year contract: "We will come with everything we have got"] (in Spanish). Clarín. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
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