Augusto da Costa

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+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	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)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

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

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

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.

Club

Vasco da Gama

• South American Championship of Champions: 1948
• Campeonato Carioca: 1945, 1947, 1949, 1950 and 1952
• Rivadávia Corrêa Meyer Octagonal Tournament: 1953

International

Brazil

• Copa Rio Branco: 1947, 1950
• Copa Rio Branco Runner-up: 1946, 1948
• South American Championship Runner-up: 1946
• South American Championship: 1949
• Taça Oswaldo Cruz: 1950
• FIFA World Cup Runner-up: 1950