Roma lost one of their greatest ever goalscorers on Tuesday 10th November, as Dino Da Costa passed away at the age of 89.
Da Costa spent six years playing for Roma, between 1955 and 1961. In total, he scored 79 goals for the club in 163 appearances.
Born in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in 1931, Da Costa began his career at his hometown club, Botafogo. After scoring a brace on his debut as a 17-year-old, he went on to achieve 137 goals in 174 games for them, across a seven-year spell.
In 1955, one year after finishing as the top scorer in Brazil’s Campeonato Carioca, Roma gave him the chance to come to Europe and showcase his obvious talents.
The club had noticed him when Botafogo had visited Italy on tour, including a game against Roma themselves. Thanks to his Italian heritage, they were able to register him as a homegrown player, since foreign players could not play in Serie A at the time.
Hence, Da Costa became the first ever Brazilian player to represent Roma, even if technically he wasn’t recognised as such.
Da Costa’s first game in Italy came on 18th September that year, against Vicenza. Roma won 4-1, with Da Costa scoring in the 25th minute.
It barely took Da Costa any time to get going with Roma. He made more appearances and scored more goals than any of his teammates in his first season, with 34 and 12 respectively.
In just his second season, he outscored every player in Serie A to win the Capocannoniere award with 22 goals. That achievement is even more impressive considering that Roma finished 14th in Serie A that year, two points above the relegation zone; without Da Costa’s goals, they would have been in serious trouble.
Rest in peace Dino Da Costa, one of the greatest goalscorers in the club's history.
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) November 10, 2020
Our thoughts are with his family and friends. 💛🙏❤️ #ASRoma pic.twitter.com/pgG0jnWLVA
Under English coach Alec Stock, and then legendary former Serie A striker Gunnar Nordahl, things improved the next season. Roma finished a much more respectable fifth – and once again, Da Costa led the way with appearances and goals.
The following season, 1958-59, was the last in which Da Costa scored double figures. No Roma player could beat his 18 goals across all competitions.
However, competition up front was starting to become more intense. In 1958, Arne Selmosson arrived from Lazio, and one year later, the prolific Pedro Manfredini joined the club. Da Costa scored just twice from 17 games in 1959-60.
Towards the end of his time with Roma, he went out on loan to Fiorentina in 1960. However, he returned in time to play for the Giallorossi in the first leg of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final the following summer.
Roma drew 2-2 at Birmingham City in that game, but won the second leg – in which Da Costa did not play – to claim their only ever European trophy.
It proved to be the only trophy Da Costa ever won with Roma, but it was a fitting end to his career with the club. That November, he left permanently, going on to play for Atalanta, Juventus, Hellas Verona and Ascoli.
Thoughts with the family of Dino Da Costa, who has died at the age of 89.
— Giallorossi Yorkshire (@RomaYorkshire) November 10, 2020
He was the highest-scoring Brazilian-born player in #ASRoma’s history.
Riposa in pace.
Da Costa won the Coppa Italia at both Atalanta and Juventus, without playing in either final. He had, however, featured on the winning side in the final during his time at Fiorentina – with whom he also won the Cup Winners’ Cup.
Da Costa retired in 1968, as he approached the age of 37. He had spent his best years in Europe with Roma.
To this day, he remains the highest-scoring Brazilian-born player to represent the club. (Although, while he was born in South America, he played once for Italy in 1958, scoring in his only cap against Northern Ireland).
The record for which he is remembered most fondly at Roma, however, is that of scoring more goals than anyone else in the Derby Della Capitale. He scored 11 times in competitive games against Lazio – a tally that only Francesco Totti can match.
Embed from Getty Images“With Roma I won many matches,” reflected Da Costa in 2013, “but knowing I am remembered for the derbies is something really special.”
Da Costa still sits in Roma’s top 10 scorers of all-time to this day. He scored more goals than the likes of Rudi Voller, Daniele De Rossi and Giuseppe Giannini.
To emphasise how prolific Da Costa was, it’s worth pointing out that he wasn’t even a traditional centre-forward. While he often played in the attacking line, he could also play in midfield.
Many years have passed since he wore the Roma colours, but Da Costa will always be fondly remembered.
Da Costa represented Roma with class for more than half a decade. He earned his place in the club’s history.
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