Name: Alessandro Costacurta

Nationality: Italy

Position: Defender (center back / sweeper)

Club Career (highlights):

• AC Milan — Youth product and long-time first-team member. Senior career at Milan: 1986–2007 (with a brief 1986–1987 and 1988–1989 loan spells away early in his career). Spent nearly his entire professional club career with AC Milan.
• Loan spells: Monza (1986–1987) and Padova (1987–1988) early in his career before establishing himself at Milan.

Club Achievements with AC Milan (selected):

• Serie A titles: multiple (including 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04)
• European Cup / UEFA Champions League: 1988–89, 1989–90, 1993–94, 2002–03
• European Super Cup / Intercontinental Cup / FIFA Club World Cup: several titles during Milan’s dominant periods

International Career:

• Italy national team caps: over 50 appearances (served mainly in the 1990s and early 2000s)
• Tournaments: Part of Italy squads for UEFA Euro 1996, 2000 (runners-up) and FIFA World Cup 1998 and 2002 (squad member in 2006 but not selected for final tournament appearances); he contributed to Italy’s run to the Euro 2000 final.

Playing Style: A composed, intelligent defender known for excellent positional sense, anticipation, tactical awareness and longevity. Comfortable as a central defender and, later in his career, as a sweeper and experienced organizer of the back line. Notable for consistency, leadership and discipline.

Career Longevity & Legacy: Costacurta enjoyed an exceptionally long top-level career, retiring in 2007. Widely regarded as one of Italy’s best defenders of his generation and a key figure in AC Milan’s golden era under managers like Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello. After retirement he worked as a football pundit and occasional coach/technical advisor.

Date of Birth: April 24, 1966

Total Club Appearances & Goals (approx.): Over 600 club appearances across all competitions with a modest goals tally (mainly defensive player).