Diego (footballer, born 1979)

Diego
Personal information
Full name	Diego Costa Silva
Date of birth	11 May 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth	Itaqui, Brazil
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1992–1996	Grêmio
1997–1999	Juventude
Senior career*
Years	Team
1999–2002	Juventude
2003–2005	Atlético-PR
2006–2008	Fluminense
2009	Santo André
2009–2010	Leixões
2010–2012	Vitória Setúbal
2012–2014	Gabala
2015	Juventude
2015–2017	Vitória Setúbal
Total
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Diego Costa Silva (born 11 May 1979), known simply as Diego, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Born in Itaqui, Rio Grande do Sul, Diego represented in his country Esporte Clube Juventude, Clube Atlético Paranaense, Fluminense FC and Esporte Clube Santo André. He competed in the Série A with all the clubs, for example being an undisputed starter for the second as it finished second in the 2004 season (45 games).

In 2009, Diego moved to Portugal, where he played for Leixões S.C. and Vitória FC, both in the Primeira Liga. At the end of his second campaign with the Setúbal-based team, he was chosen as best player in the squad.^[1]

In June 2012, 33-year-old Diego signed for Azerbaijan Premier League side Gabala FC, on a two-year contract.^[2] In his first season at his new club he split starting duties with Anar Nazirov, appearing in a total of 18 official matches – two in the domestic cup – and making his debut on 4 August against Simurq PFC.^[3]

Diego's son, Diego Callai, is also a professional football goalkeeper.^[4]

As of 3 November 2013^[5]

Club statistics
Season	Club	League	League		Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
Season	Club	League	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Portugal			League		Taça de Portugal		Taça da Liga		Europe		Total
2009–10	Leixões	Primeira Liga	23	0	0	0	3	0	-		26	0
2010–11	Setúbal		30	0	3	0	0	0	-		33	0
2011–12	Setúbal		28	0	0	0	2	0	-		30	0
Azerbaijan			League		Azerbaijan Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
2012–13^[6]	Gabala	Azerbaijan Premier League	16	0	2	0	-		-		18	0
2013–14	Gabala	Azerbaijan Premier League	9	0	0	0	-		-		9	0
Total	Portugal		81	0	3	0	5	0	0	0	89	0
Total	Azerbaijan		25	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	27	0
Total			106	0	5	0	5	0	0	0	116	0

Juventude

Atlético Paranaense

Fluminense

^ "Diego e Bruno Amaro distinguidos em Setúbal" [Diego e Bruno Amaro distinguished in Setúbal]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 14 May 2012. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
^ "Diego Costa joins Gabala". Gabala FC. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
^ "Simurq vs. Qabala 1–1". Soccerway. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
^ "Pai comenta cedência de Diego Callai ao Feirense: «Vai evoluir e crescer ainda mais»". www.record.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 24 March 2024.
^ "Diego Silva". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
^ "Kim oynadı, kim vurdu – 2012/13" [Who played, who scored – 2012/13] (PDF) (in Azerbaijani). PFL. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.