Billy Costacurta is 58 years old today

Milan legend Alessandro Costacurta celebrates his 58th birthday today.

Costacurta was born on April 24, 1966 in a small Italian town called Jerago con Orago. He started playing basketball when he was younger, hence the nickname “Billy”, as the fans and fellow players later referred to the classic player, because at that time all he dreamed of was becoming a certified player for Billy Olimpia Milano.

In addition to playing basketball, he started playing football, in 1979 he joined Milan’s reserve team and his fate was sealed here, as a lifelong love was forged between little Alessandro and the team of his life, the Rossoneri. He had been a member of the senior squad since 1985, but his introduction awaited the following year. However, the then 19-year-old defender was given few opportunities to play, so he spent the 1986/87 season on loan at the then third-division AC Monza team. He played in thirty matches and lived up to expectations, so he could start the autumn again in Milan.

He appeared in a total of 7 league matches and one cup match that year, when Arrigo Sacchi led Milan to the eleventh league title in the club’s history. From the fall of 1988, he was given many more opportunities to prove himself, which he appreciated and became a stable member of the starting team.

He entered the field as a starter in the EC final on May 24, 1989, which was held in Barcelona, ​​where the red and black team defeated Steaua Bucharest 4-0. The following season was similar, Milan won the BEK and won the Intercontinental Cup for the second time in a row. And Billy scored the first goal of his professional career, the opponent was Inter. In the successful series from 1990 to 1996, he took the lion’s share as the main man of the defense. During these years, the Rossoneri became the Italian champion four times, won the Champions League and the European Super Cup, as well as the Italian Super Cup three times. During the quieter period that followed, Costacurta won the respect of the profession, the fans and his fellow players, he could always be counted on in the axis of defense, he followed Maldini’s instructions without a word. He was well placed, well headed. At the time of the championship success in 1999, he was already vice-captain.

Since the 2000s, he has had less and less opportunities to play, but despite his age of 38, he still played in almost half of the matches and played a significant role in the 2003/04 BL success and championship victory. He announced his retirement at the end of the 2006/07 season, now a fresh five-time BEK/BL winner. In the league match against Udinese, he said goodbye to his beloved club and the fans with a goal. Billy scored his third goal from the penalty spot, making him the oldest goalscorer in the history of the Italian league at the age of 41 years and 25 days. He held this record until March 2023, when Zlatan Ibrahimovic broke it – also from the penalty spot.

The ever-reliable Costacurta quietly amassed 663 appearances during his 21 years in Milan, full of world class players, and in the history of the club, only Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi donned the legendary red and black shirt more times. He won 7 Scudettos, 5 BEK/BL trophies, 5 Italian Super Cups and 5 European Super Cups, 1 Italian Cup and 2 Intercontinental Cups.

SELECTED:

Costacurta made his debut in the Italian national team on November 13, 1991 under Arrigo Sacchi. Until 1998, he represented his country in a total of 59 matches, in which he scored two goals, against Slovenia and Ireland. His best result was second place at the 1994 WC. He participated in two World Cups and one European Championship with the Azzurri.

ALESSANDRO COSTACURTA

DATA:

Date of birth: 24.04.1966.
Place of birth: Jerago con Orago, Italy
Position: centre-back
Nickname: “Billy”
Seasons spent at Milan: 22
Matches in Milan: 663
Goals in Milan: 3

DEBUT:

Serie A – 25.10.1987 Verona-Milan 0-1
Italian Cup – 24.08.1986 Milan-Sambenedettese 1-0
BEK – 07.09.1988 Levski-Milan 0-2
UEFA Cup – 26.09.1995 Lubin-Milan 1-4

TROPHIES WON:

Scudetto: 7 – (1987/88, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1998/99, 2003/04)
Italian Cup: 1 – (2002/03)
Italian Super Cup: 5 – (1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2004)
BEK/BL cup: 5 – (1988/89, 1989/90, 1993/94, 2002/03, 2006/07)
European Super Cup: 5 – (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003)
Intercontinental Cup: 2 – (1989, 1990)

May God live long!