Alessandro Costacurta

Who is Alessandro Costacurta?

Alessandro "Billy" Costacurta is an Italian football manager and a former professional defender.

Costacurta spent some twenty years at Milan between 1987 and 2007, with a brief period spent in Monza on loan. He is best known for his role alongside Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini and Mauro Tassotti, forming one of the greatest defenses in the Serie A and European football during the late 80s and 90s under the success of managers Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello. He mainly operated as a central defender, and was a leading exponent of the position, receiving International acclaim, winning 7 Serie A titles and 5 Champions League/European Cup trophies throughout his career, as well as many other trophies. Costacurta retired from professional football at the age of 41, on 19 May 2007. In his final match for Milan, he scored a goal from a penalty in a 3-2 defeat against Udinese, becoming the oldest goalscorer in Serie A.

Along with his Milan team mates, Costacurta was also an important member of the Italian national side during the 1990s. He made 59 appearances for Italy, scoring 2 goals, and he participated in two World Cups, as well as a European Championship in 1996.