Quique Costas


Enrique "Quique" Álvarez Costas is a Spanish retired football defender and coach.
He played 229 La Liga matches over the course of 11 seasons, in representation of Celta and Barcelona.
Costas began a lengthy managerial career in the 90s, mainly being in charge of Barcelona B.

Club career

Born in Vigo, Galicia, Costas began his professional career with local RC Celta de Vigo in 1965. He played 26 second division games in his first season, including both legs of the La Liga playoff promotion against CE Sabadell FC.
After solid performances in the 1970–71 campaign, Costas moved to league powerhouse FC Barcelona after 170 overall appearances. Almost never an undisputed starter he was still used regularly, and helped the Catalans to the 1979 conquest of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in his penultimate year.
Costas took up coaching afterwards, eventually managing Barcelona's B-side on three occasions. On one of them he coincided with his son Quique Álvarez, a La Masia youth product and also a defender, who went on to play with success for Villarreal CF; he had another son, Óscar, who occupied the same position and competed mainly in the second and third levels.

International career

Costas earned 13 caps for Spain, during a five-year period. His debut came on 11 February 1970, in a 2–0 friendly win with West Germany.
Costas was not selected, however, for any major international tournament, as the country did not manage to reach any during that timeframe.

Honours

Barcelona