Manuel da Costa (footballer)

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Manuel da Costa
Personal information
Full name	Manuel da Costa
Date of birth	6 May 1986
Place of birth	Saint-Max, France
Height	187 cm
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	PSV Eindhoven
Number	14
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2004-2006 2006-	AS Nancy-Lorraine PSV Eindhoven	10 (1) 7 (0)
National team2
2006- 2006-	Portugal U-21 Portugal	22 (0) 0 (0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of June 21, 2006. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of March 28, 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Manuel da Costa born in Saint-Max, France on 6 May 1986 is a Portuguese player for PSV Eindhoven. Da Costa is from France but his parents were both from Portugal allowing him to play for the Portuguese national football team. He had never played for Portugal but he was called up for Euro 2008 qualifying matches on October, November 2006 and March 2007. He could have played for France but he refused, instead joining the Portugal U-21.

Contents 1 Club Stats 2 Chelsea FC 3 PSV Eindhoven 4 Trivia 5 External links

[edit] Club Stats

Manuel da Costa began his career at Ligue 1 club Association Sportive Nancy-Lorraine where he was one of their most used player after having offers from clubs like Paris SG to where he was recommended by Pauleta. He also had offers from Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux, and Newcastle United, but opted to play in Holland with PSV Eindhoven where the glamour of UEFA Champion's League football caught his eye at the Philips Stadion, so PSV added to their defensive options with the capture of da Costa in summer 2006.

The 20-year-old centre-back agreed a five-year contract with the Dutch champions to become new coach Ronald Koeman's second summer signing. Da Costa was given the nº14 shirt, and a trip to the club's training base whetted his appetite for future challenges, saying: "It will be a beautiful base to grow and develop with PSV Eindhoven." As well as his ten appearances in Ligue 1 in 2005/06 - with his debut coming in January - Da Costa scored a memorable individual goal to help Nancy defeat Le Mans in the French League Cup semi-finals. Nancy went on to lift the trophy and qualify for the UEFA Cup, although their former charge would be in the UEFA Champions League.

He caught the eye representing Portugal at the Toulon Under-20 tournament in May 2006, having resisted calls to play for France where he was born.

[edit] Chelsea FC

Chelsea FC agreed a deal with PSV Eindhoven to bring the young defender to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2007. The 20-year old will join fellow portuguese defenders Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho at The Bridge, as well as Portuguese manager José Mourinho.

The two clubs have an understanding, whereby Chelsea FC will sign players - mainly from South America - who can then be nurtured for a few years in Holland, before stepping up to Premiership football.

[edit] PSV Eindhoven

Manuel da Costa is one of PSV Eindhoven's most versatile defenders, and he and Carlos Salcido formed the basis of PSV's defence with his first European game against Liverpool FC where he got his first taste of the UEFA Champions League.

[edit] Trivia

Manuel da Costa is also a fan of Portuguese rapper Boss AC, also liking T.I. and Trance.

[edit] External links

• (French) Manuel da Costa (footballer) French league stats at lfp.fr

PSV Eindhoven - Current Squad
1 Gomes | 2 Kromkamp | 3 Reiziger | 4 Alex | 6 Simons | 7 Väyrynen | 8 Cocu | 9 Kluivert | 10 Koné | 11 Méndez | 13 Alcides | 14 da Costa | 15 Čulina | 16 Aissati | 17 Farfán | 18 Addo | 19 Lamey | 20 Afellay | 21 Moens | 22 Fehér | 23 Salcido | 24 Nguyen | 25 de Jong | 26 Tardelli | 28 Sun | 30 Plá | 31 Boffin | 39 Marcellis | Manager: Koeman