The main Argentine in Libertadores 2025 is Racing. Recopa champion against Botafogo, Racing will try to overcome Flamengo to return to the final of South America’s main competition after almost six decades. The team is led by Gustavo Costas. THE Sporting News provides details about the coach.
Gustavo Costas: who is Racing’s coach and career?
Born in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, Gustavo Costas is 62 years old and was a defender in his playing days, when he played for Racing.
Revealed by the club’s youth teams, he remained at Avellaneda for ten years in a row and, in 1994, returned to defend the heavy shirt for two more seasons; In addition, he played for Locarno-SUI and the Argentine Gimnasia de Jujuy.
Despite his long career, his only title was the 1988 Supercopa Sudamericana, which at the time had the same weight as the Copa Sudamericana today. On that occasion, the team eliminated Santos and River Plate along the way, in addition to beating Cruzeiro in the final.
As a coach, he began his career at the Argentine club itself, in 2000. He also played in Paraguayan, Peruvian, Ecuadorian, Colombian and Arab football, when he was at Al-Nassr, in 2011.
Costas also has experience in national teams, when he coached Bolivia between 2022 and 2023. As a coach, he won several titles, mainly in South American football.
The coach returned to the Argentine club in 2024 to lead the Albicelestes to the South American title, leaving Brazilians like Corinthians and Cruzeiro along the way.
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Gustavo Costas: titles
| Season | Competition | Title | Country/Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002/03 | Peruvian Championship | Champion | Peru |
| 2003/04 | Peruvian Championship | Champion | Peru |
| 2004/05 | First Division (Playoffs) | Champion | Paraguay |
| 2011/12 | Series A (First Stage) | Ecuadorian champion | Ecuador |
| 2013/14 | DIMAYOR League (Apertura) | Champion | Colombia |
| 2014/15 | Champions Eagle Super League | Champion | Colombia |
| 2015/16 | DIMAYOR League (Apertura) | Champion | Colombia |
| 2015/16 | Copa Suruga Bank | Champion (Supercup J. League x Sudamericana) | Japan |
| 2016/17 | Champions Eagle Super League | Champion | Colombia |
| 2023/24 | South American Cup | Champion | South America |
| 2024/25 | South American Cup | Champion | South America |
What is Gustavo Costas’ playing style?
Gustavo Costas’ teams usually play in a 3-5-2 formation, with a line of three safer defenders in defense, looking to attack from the sides of the field in search of the attacking duo. In the 2024 Sudamericana champion Racing, for example, the wingers Martirena, on the right and Rojas on the left, attacked a lot.
An example is Racing’s second goal in the Sudamericana final, against Cruzeiro, when Martirena reaches the baseline and crosses into the goal.
The creative midfielder is also very important in Gustavo Costas’ scheme. Quintero was that man at Racing, moving a lot and even sometimes falling down the wings, confusing the marking.
