Costinha - Right Back

Footie Scout AI
4 days ago
4 min read

Costinha: Olympiacos’ Fire-starter on the Right — The Dynamo Nobody Saw Coming

If Olympiacos were a rock band, the ultras would be pounding the drums, Rodinei would be shredding the solos, and somewhere on the left flank there’d be a blur of red-and-white, sprinting past defenders like they’ve personally insulted him. That blur? Costinha.

At first glance he’s just another modern full-back — young, fast, technical. But watch him for five minutes and you quickly realise Olympiacos haven’t just found a left-back…they’ve unleashed a full-blown force of nature.

Costinha’s rise from Portugal’s youth ranks to Olympiacos is far from a coincidence — it’s the natural progression of a full-back who blends athletic energy with tactical maturity.

After developing across six academies, including elite setups at FC Porto and SC Braga, he emerged at Rio Ave as one of the Primeira Liga’s more understated yet reliable young defenders. His debut in 2020 against Gil Vicente marked the start of a steady climb, and over the following seasons he built a reputation for consistency, adaptability and an unwavering work ethic.

Playing Style & Strengths

⚡ Athletic Engine - Costinha’s biggest asset is his relentless stamina. He covers huge distances every match, repeatedly making overlapping runs while still maintaining defensive discipline.

🛡 Strong Defensive Positioning - He reads danger well, tracks runners responsibly and rarely becomes isolated in 1v1 situations — a result of facing high-level coaching during his Porto and Braga youth years.

📈 Progressive Mindset - He likes to push forward, offering width and depth in the attack. His forward runs help stretch defensive blocks and create crossing opportunities.

🎯 Clean Delivery From Wide Areas - Whether low cutbacks or driven crosses, Costinha’s service into the box is a key part of his attacking contribution.

🔄 Tactical Versatility - Comfortable as a traditional right-back or a more aggressive wing-back, he adapts easily to different systems, making him valuable in modern, flexible tactical setups.

Why Olympiacos Wanted Him

Olympiacos has long targeted rising Portuguese talents, and Costinha fits their model perfectly:

Young, with substantial first-team experience
Athletic and high-tempo, ideal for Greek football
Coach-friendly due to discipline and tactical intelligence
Affordable with high resale potential
Still nowhere near his ceiling

For Olympiacos, Costinha is both a sporting investment and a future-proof squad piece — someone who can compete immediately while still developing into a more polished, high-level defender.

What He Brings to Olympiacos

With Olympiacos pushing for domestic dominance and European success, Costinha’s blend of hard work, intensity and composure provides balance on the right flank. His arrival strengthens the team’s transitions, adds pace to the buildup phase and injects youthful hunger into the defensive unit.

2025/26 Season Stats (so far)

Costinha remains a regular fixture in Olympiacos’s defensive rotation — with 709 minutes over 12 games, he’s getting meaningful playing time.
Although he hasn’t contributed directly to goals or assists this season, he’s helped earn 5 clean sheets, indicating defensive solidity when he features.
Conceding 6 goals during his minutes is not unusual, given that as a fullback he is partly judged on defensive stability, and clean sheets show his role in defensive phases.
Discipline wise, he’s been fairly clean — just one yellow card so far — which supports the view of him as a composed, reliable defender rather than a reckless wide-back.

Overall Verdict on Costinha – Why He’s a Smart Signing

Costinha represents the exact type of modern full-back that ambitious clubs look to develop: young, tactically educated, physically dynamic, and still far from his ceiling. His journey through several respected Portuguese academies — from Porto and Braga to Rio Ave — has shaped a player who understands structure, positioning, and responsibility on both sides of the ball.

What sets him apart is not flashy output, but consistency, maturity, and adaptability, traits that often translate more reliably when players make the jump abroad.

At Rio Ave, he proved he could handle top-flight football with composure, offering reliability in defence and a constant willingness to push forward. He’s not the type of full-back who forces unnecessary risks or abandons his defensive duties; instead, he balances aggression with discipline, making him dependable in high-level systems. His work rate, clean tackling, and strong recovery runs fit perfectly with clubs that demand athletic, high-tempo wide defenders.

For Olympiacos, Costinha is a smart, low-risk, high-upside signing. He arrives with a strong technical foundation, experience in the Portuguese league — a well-known talent pipeline — and the mentality to adapt quickly. His age means there is room for growth, development, and resale value, while his game intelligence means he can contribute immediately. In a league where pace, physicality, and defensive reliability matter, Costinha ticks every box.

In short:

Costinha is not just a squad addition — he’s an investment in a full-back who can grow into a dominant presence on the right flank. With the right coaching and minutes, he has all the attributes to become one of the league’s most reliable and well-rounded defenders.