Augusto da Costa

Brazilian footballer and manager (1920-2004)

Augusto da Costa (22 October 1922 – 1 March 2004) was a former Brazilian football player. He has played for Brazil national team. He was regarded as one of Brazil's finest defenders. He was known as a strong defender, for marking opponents and was also renowned for blocking shots and tackling and his leadership.

Augusto da Costa
Augusto in 1950
Personal information
Full name Augusto da Costa
Date of birth (1920-10-22)22 October 1920
Place of birth Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date of death 1 March 2004(2004-03-01) (aged 83)
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9+12 in)
Position(s) Right-back (retired)
Youth career
1931–1936 São Cristóvão
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1936–1944 São Cristóvão 134 (0)
1944–1954 Vasco da Gama 297 (22)
Total 431 (22)
National team
1946–1950 Brazil 20 (1)
Honours
Men's Football
Representing  Brazil
FIFA World Cup
Runner-up 1950 Brazil
Copa América
Winner 1949 Brazil
Runner-up 1946 Argentina
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

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Augusto began his career at São Cristóvão in 1936 and played for this team for 8 years. But Augusto achieved the greatest success with the Vasco da Gama club, for which the footballer played from 1944 to 1954, and for some time was the team captain. With Vasco, Augusto won 5 state championships, as well as several exhibition tournaments in South America, in total, Augusto played 297 matches with 22 goals for the club and he was considered to be one of the best players ever.

International career

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Augusto played for the Brazilian national team from 1946 to 1950, having played 20 matches (14 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses) and scored 1 goal. He was a participant in two South American championships, in the second of which he won the league title, as well as the 1950 World Cup, in which the Brazilians lost in the decisive match to Uruguay, and Augusto, as team captain retired from the national team, he was consoled by Roque Máspoli. Augusto also played several matches for the Rio national team.

After football

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After completing his playing career, Augusto tried himself as a coach, but unsuccessfully. Later, he worked in the special military police of Rio de Janeiro, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and commander of the special forces guard.

He died on March 1, 2004 at the age of 83 due to kidney failure.

Honours

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Vasco da Gama

International

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Brazil