For the 15th edition of the 'stars play too' series we bring you one of the stars currently playing in the Segunda Liga – Costinha, a player at Chaves – who told us he's a 'total addict' of Football Manager, being his great companion on the many trips he has to make for matches.
After finishing his youth training at Académica de Coimbra, he started his career in the 3rd Division playing for Sertanense and Tocha. From there, he went chasing the dream to Dinamarca where he played for Fredericia. After a season and a half with plenty of games under his belt, he decided to return to Portugal to play for Lusitano Vildemoinhos (Campeonato de Portugal), where he had a season and a half at a great level, which earned him a move to the Primeira Liga to play for Vitória de Setúbal. It was here that he really shone, fully establishing himself as the team's star over three seasons in the Sadinos' shirt, until in 2018/2019 he moved to Chaves in an attempt to help save the club from relegation. Although that goal wasn't achieved (in real life, because in FM he's even already won the title!), he remains there this season fully focused on the big goal: promotion.
Join us in this conversation and find out more about this star!
FMPortugal.net: How did this passion of yours for CM/FM come about? What's your fondest memory from when you first got 'hooked'?
Costinha: I always found the idea of being a manager fun, and when this game came along it was a 'natural step' to start playing. My best memories are of when I do great work, or when I discover a truly exceptional player! I also remember playing a save all the way to 2035 on FM 2016, where Cristiano Ronaldo was my scout. (laughs)
FMPortugal.net: When you started a save, was your initial intention to grow within the club until you became a Sir Alex Ferguson ou tornavas-te um globetrotter?
Costinha: I've always liked staying at one club and growing it, and funnily enough I've always had my name set as 'Sir João Costa'! (laughs)
FMPortugal.net: Have you ever won everything there was to win with a team? What's your greatest achievement and which club did you do it with?
Costinha: Yes, I've pulled off that feat of winning everything! In FM 2019 I started a career with Lusitânia de Lourosa and won everything domestically and even won the Europa League. In the Champions League though, I only got as far as the quarter-finals.
FMPortugal.net: Relativamente à forma como estás retratado no FM, o que alterarias para melhor e… pior? Nós poderemos pensar no assunto… (risos)
Costinha: Overall, I like how I'm portrayed (well done!). That said, if I were to change something I'd suggest slightly raising the leadership, concentration and positioning attributes. On the other hand, I'd lower the aggression a little.
FMPortugal.net: Do you usually follow your player's career path? Or do you always try to bring him to whichever team you're managing? (laughs)
Costinha: Always! I follow both myself and my teammates. I'm always really curious to find out where our players are at the start of each season.
FMPortugal.net: Now about your career: you played in Denmark for Fredericia. What made you come back? What were the main differences you felt compared to Portugal?
Costinha: What made me come back was that things overall weren't going as well as at first, also due to managerial changes among other factors. As for the main differences, I'd highlight the intensity it's played with, which, keeping things in proportion, resembles English football.
FMPortugal.net: You've had an interesting path: 3rd Division to Denmark. You came back to Portugal for the Campeonato Nacional de Séniores (now CP), you were in the Primeira Liga, and now you're in the Segunda Liga with Chaves, a clear promotion contender. What are the big competitive differences?
Costinha: Comparing my experience between the 1st and 2nd Leagues, the biggest difference is that in the 2nd the football isn't played as well, but it ends up being more intense with less time to think. As for the Campeonato de Portugal, it's the competitive intensity — anyone jumping straight from there into professional competitions feels the difference right away.
FMPortugal.net: Do you usually play with friends and/or fellow professionals?
Costinha: Sometimes I play with friends outside of football, and we have a rule between us: after we play against each other, whoever loses has to put up with being teased for a week, or worse, if they get sacked: they have to buy lunch! (laughs)
FMPortugal.net: Por fim, o facto de jogares FM, fez-te crescer vontade de seres treinador quando decidires dar por terminada a tua carreira? Ou ainda não pensaste sobre esse assunto?
Costinha: I haven't fully decided what I'll do once my career ends, but I already have my Level 1 coaching badge. Preparing for the future is almost unavoidable, since our careers as footballers inevitably have an 'end of life', and doing so, in a way, helps us understand the game better and be on the pitch in a different way.
Quick Questions:
First edition you played?
CM 01/02
Favourite edition?
FM 2009
Favourite league to play in?
Premier League and Championship
Favourite team to play as?
I like starting with teams that have a big fanbase but are in lower divisions
Favourite player you've ever had in any edition?
Matthijs de Ligt: he was a player I signed whenever possible, he always turned out to be a star!
Best club you've seen your player transfer to (without any influence from you)?
At Premier League and La Liga clubs, which is amazing!
As for Costinha we can only remember good things! He showed undeniable quality playing for Vitória de Setúbal which made him known to every sports pundit. Currently at Chaves, he's a player who, without a doubt, by the end of the season we'll be eager to find out where he'll end up: if he already stood out in the Primeira Liga, it's even harder for Costinha to go unnoticed in our Segunda Liga. Wishing you a great 2019/2020 season, and we'll keep following your career closely here!
Fiquem com alguns dos seus melhores momentos enquanto estava ao serviço do Vitória de Setúbal in the 2016/2017 Season:
