Alessandro Costacurta was born on 24 April 1966 and is an Italian football pundit, manager and a former professional defender who usually played as a centre back.
41 Facts About Alessandro Costacurta
2.
Alessandro Costacurta is best known for his role alongside Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, and Mauro Tassotti, forming one of the greatest defences in Serie A and European football during the late 1980s and 1990s, under the success of managers Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello.
3.
Alessandro Costacurta retired from professional football at the age of 41, on 19 May 2007.
4.
Alessandro Costacurta made 59 appearances for Italy, scoring 2 goals, and he participated in two World Cups, as well as a European Championship in 1996.
5.
Alessandro Costacurta was affectionally known to his fans as "Billy", due to his thin physique in his youth, and his notable skill at basketball.
6.
Alessandro Costacurta made his first Serie A appearance on 25 October 1987 against Hellas Verona on the sixth matchday of the season.
7.
Alessandro Costacurta played the first 74 minutes of the final before being substituted by Filippo Galli.
8.
Alessandro Costacurta featured in Milan's Intercontinental Cup win in Tokyo over Atletico Nacional, and in the European Supercup victory over Johan Cruyff's Barcelona.
9.
In Sacchi's final season at the club, Alessandro Costacurta would become a starting centreback alongside Franco Baresi, as well as full-backs Mauro Tassotti and Paolo Maldini, in Sacchi's four-man defensive line, which is regarded as one of the greatest defences of all-time.
10.
Alessandro Costacurta would make 25 appearances in Serie A that season, and he would win his second consecutive Intercontinental Cup and European Super Cup trophies.
11.
Under Capello's Milan, Alessandro Costacurta continued to be a permanent member of the starting line-up, and he won four Serie A titles, a Champions League title in 1994, an UEFA Super Cup in 1994, as well as three consecutive Italian Supercups in 1992,1993 and 1994.
12.
However, Alessandro Costacurta missed the 1994 Champions League final win over Barcelona on 18 May because of a suspension, having been sent-off in the semi-final match against Monaco.
13.
Alessandro Costacurta was named Milan's vice-captain that season, behind Maldini, following the retirement of Baresi and Tassotti.
14.
However, Milan lacked defenders in their squad due to injuries, and Adriano Galliani recalled Alessandro Costacurta to renew his contract the night before the second leg of their crucial UEFA Champions League playoff match against Czech side Slovan Liberec.
15.
Milan finished third in Serie A that season, and Alessandro Costacurta won his first ever Coppa Italia with the club, overcoming Roma in the final.
16.
Under Ancelotti, Alessandro Costacurta would be employed at both centre-back and right-back during this season.
17.
Alessandro Costacurta started the match at right back, and was substituted in the 65th minute, coming off for Roque Junior.
18.
In 2004, Alessandro Costacurta was elected 50th in the UEFA Golden Jubilee online poll, which celebrated the best European footballers from the past 50 years.
19.
Alessandro Costacurta's record was later broken by Marco Ballotta, who on 11 December 2007, played a match at age 43 years and 253 days for Lazio against Real Madrid.
20.
Alessandro Costacurta began his final professional season with the club at age 40.
21.
Alessandro Costacurta remained with the club as a second assistant to manager Carlo Ancelotti for a short time afterwards.
22.
Alessandro Costacurta became the oldest outfield player to play in a Serie A match.
23.
Alessandro Costacurta won a Coppa Italia, five Supercoppa Italiana, four UEFA Supercups and two Intercontinental Cups with Milan.
24.
Alessandro Costacurta made 662 appearances for Milan throughout his career.
25.
Alessandro Costacurta is the third highest appearances holder for Milan in official matches, with 662 caps; only Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini have managed more appearances.
26.
Between 1986 and 1990, Alessandro Costacurta made eight appearances with the Italian under-21 side, participating in two European Championships in 1988, where Italy reached the quarter-finals, and in 1990, where Italy reached the semi-finals.
27.
Alessandro Costacurta later became a regular first-team member under his former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi, who replaced Vicini in 1991 after Italy failed to qualify for Euro 1992 in Sweden.
28.
Alessandro Costacurta was a starting member in Italy's defensive line at the 1994 World Cup.
29.
Alessandro Costacurta helped Italy reach the final, putting in strong defensive performances alongside Milan teammate Paolo Maldini, in particular following fellow Milan centre-back Franco Baresi's injury, and fellow Milan right-back Mauro Tassotti's suspension.
30.
Alessandro Costacurta notably helped a ten-man Italy to keep a clean sheet in their second group match against Norway.
31.
Alessandro Costacurta started in Euro 1996 for Italy, as they were eliminated in the first round, in a group with the two eventual finalists, the Czech Republic and Germany.
32.
Alessandro Costacurta was a key member of Italy's defence in the 1998 World Cup under manager Cesare Maldini, starting in all five of Italy's matches and helping the team to keep three clean sheets.
33.
Alessandro Costacurta was a tactically versatile defender who excelled anywhere along the backline, which allowed him to have a long and highly successful career, both at club level and with the national side, winning many trophies.
34.
Alessandro Costacurta was a complete, hard-working and experienced defender who was gifted with good distribution and crossing ability, as well as a solid technique and first touch, which he developed further as his career progressed, despite not initially being the most naturally skilful player on the ball; this enabled him to be comfortable in possession, carry the ball forward into midfield, and start attacking plays from the back-line.
35.
Alessandro Costacurta was a tenacious yet disciplined defender with fast reactions who was known in particular for his exceptional tactical intelligence as well as his timing and strong, precise tackling ability.
36.
Alessandro Costacurta was quick-thinking, mobile, effective in the air, and had an outstanding ability to read the game and anticipate plays, despite his lack of notable pace, physical strength or athletic attributes, due to his slender build.
37.
Alessandro Costacurta was an extremely precise and attentive footballer who excelled both at man marking as well as in a zonal marking system, due to his excellent positional and organisational sense, communication, awareness and his ability to play the offside trap effectively.
38.
Alessandro Costacurta stood out for his class, leadership and professionalism on the pitch, as well as his longevity throughout his career.
39.
On 27 October 2008, Alessandro Costacurta was unveiled as new coach of Serie B promotion candidates Mantova, then 13th in the table, following the dismissal of previous boss Giuseppe Brucato.
40.
Alessandro Costacurta is married to former Miss Italia Martina Colombari, and has one son, Achille.
41.
Alessandro Costacurta is known for his vocal criticism of homophobia and discrimination against women.