Hugo Alexandre Esteves Costa (born 4 November 1973) is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a central defender.
Club career Costa was born in Tramagal, Santarém District. A graduate of S.L. Benfica's youth system, he never appeared however for its first team, going on to spend the following four seasons in the Primeira Liga with Gil Vicente FC, S.C. Beira-Mar and C.F. Estrela da Amadora, being relegated with the second club in 1994–95.
In summer 1996, Costa signed with Stoke City of the English Football League Second Division. He left the Potters after only a couple of weeks and games, returning to his country with F.C. Alverca and remaining five seasons with the Lisbon outskirts side, three spent in the top flight.
From 2001 to 2003, also as first choice and in the main division, Costa played with Vitória de Setúbal. Subsequently, he joined Germany's Rot-Weiß Oberhausen (2. Bundesliga), staying two years in the country and suffering relegation in his second.
Costa returned to Portugal midway through the 2005–06 campaign and signed a six-month contract with U.D. Leiria, playing only 16 matches in the top tier over a three-year spell; 12 of those came in 2007–08, with the team ranking 16th and last. Afterwards, the 34-year-old moved to Cyprus with Atromitos Yeroskipou.
One year later, Costa once again returned to his homeland, agreeing to a deal at lowly C.D. Pinhalnovense. He left in 2011 aged nearly 38 and retired shortly after, subsequently working as a manager in amateur football.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGil Vicente1992–93Primeira Liga242000000242Beira-Mar1993–94Primeira Liga2400000002401994–95Primeira Liga261000000261Total501000000501Estrela Amadora1995–96Primeira Liga100000000100Stoke City1996–97First Division2000200040Alverca1996–97Segunda Liga60000000601997–98Segunda Liga3002000003201998–99Primeira Liga2900000002901999–2000Primeira Liga2510000002512000–01Primeira Liga131000000131Total10322000001052Vitória Setúbal2001–02Primeira Liga3110000003112002–03Primeira Liga251100000261Total562100000572Rot-Weiß Oberhausen2003–042. Bundesliga2401000002502004–052. Bundesliga100100000110Total340200000360União Leiria2005–06Primeira Liga11000000112006–07Primeira Liga30000000302007–08Primeira Liga120102060210Total161102060256Atromitos Yeroskipou 2008–09Cypriot First Division6100000061Pinhalnovense2009–10Segunda Divisão2705100003212010–11Segunda Divisão110200000130Total380710000451Career total3399131406036210
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