Franco Costanzo

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Franco Costanzo
Personal information
Full name	Franco Costanzo
Date of birth	September 5, 1980 (1980-09-05) (age 27)
Place of birth	Río Cuarto, Argentina
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Basel
Number	1
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2001–05 2005–06 2006–present	River Plate Alavés Basel	83 (0) 31 (0) 61 (0)
National team
2003	Argentina	1 (0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 April 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Franco Costanzo (born September 5, 1980 in Río Cuarto in the Córdoba Province of Argentina) is an Argentinian football goalkeeper, who currently plays for FC Basel in the Swiss Super League.

[edit] Football career

Early in his career Costanzo was once considered an excellent prospect; however, due to a few lengthy injuries, he has never managed to fulfill his potential.

He started playing professionally with Club Atlético River Plate in 2000 before transferring to Deportivo Alavés in 2005. He then moved to FC Basel for ₤1.4m in 2006 after the departure of veteren goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbühler.

He has earned the reputation of being an eccentric goalkeeper by often dribbling the ball past the opposition's strikers and by tipping shots over the bar that could have been easily handled. Costanzo earned much praise during the 2007/08 season for his form in the UEFA Cup, especially for his part in helping FC Basel earn a valuable away point against NK Dinamo Zagreb in the hostile atmosphere of the Maksimir Stadium.

Costanzo made his international debut in 2003 for Argentina against Uruguay in a Copa America warm-up match.

[edit] Titles

Season	Club	Title
Clausura 2002	River Plate	Primera Division Argentina
Clausura 2003	River Plate	Primera Division Argentina
Clausura 2004	River Plate	Primera Division Argentina
2006 - 2007	FC Basel	Swiss Cup
2007 - 2008	FC Basel	Swiss Cup
2007 - 2008	FC Basel	Swiss Super League

[edit] External links

• Franco Costanzo on YouTube

• Franco Costanzo profile on Yahoo Deportes (Spanish)

• http://www.football.ch

 

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