The phrase triggers her Gustavo Adolfo Costas in passing, as if the prayer did not have a great weight, as if it were something habitual. “The only time I got paid for the entire year in Racing It was during the bankruptcy, although it may seem like a lie,” says the 60-year-old coach from one of the stalls at the Cilindro de Avellaneda.
There has been a lot of talk about Costas’ fanaticism for the Academy since it was announced that he would be Sebastián Grazzini’s replacement. His particular story is also known: he went from mascot to player, from captain to champion, from footballer to coach and much more. But it is the actions that best portray human beings and the academic technician has several credentials to present. “I almost never received the bonuses from when I was a player; It was 7 years or more. They didn’t give me anything either when I was a technician in management. There I did file a lawsuit until one day my lawyer came and told me that the lawsuit had been transferred to the club and that we had to go against Racing. I asked him to cancel everything,” Costas tells Clarion.
-Did your family never tell you anything about everything you gave up?
-They knew and know what I am like. In my playing days he saved me a little when I went to play for Locarno in Switzerland. Later, in 1997 I retired from Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy because I needed the money: I had nothing left over. I had already decided to hang up my boots and the leaders of Jujuy approached me to offer me half of what I earned from the firm and the other half in 12 installments. I couldn’t say no. Later, as a coach, thank God I did well. That’s why I was always clear that I was not going to return to Racing for the money.
Costas could write a book of many pages talking about his beloved Racing. His story began when he was the mascot of Juan José Pizzuti’s team. Then, the Inferiores would arrive and the debut in First, on May 16, 1982. “It was against Vélez in Liniers. I had played the day before in Quinta and they summoned me just in case, because there were a couple of injuries. I remember that a friend picked me up at my house and we went to the field in a bus. To think that now kids at 16 years old already have a 0km car. When I arrived they told me that he was going to be the starter. I could not believe it. Then, in the sixth game they gave me the captain’s ribbon,” the coach says.
-Was a First Division player going to the field by bus?
-Yes, but we are talking about another time. I worked as a cadet in a telephone company at the same time that I played in First Division. One morning I left training in a hurry because I didn’t arrive and the coach, Carlos Cavagnaro, asked me what was wrong that I was rushing so much. I told him about the job. He ordered me to resign urgently and to come to the headquarters in the afternoon to sign the contract.
-Were you there when Racing rented the team to Argentino de Mendoza?
-Yeah. We were promoted at the end of 1985 and due to a restructuring of the tournaments we only returned to play in First Division in the second half of 1986. Those from Mendoza asked for me and for Miguel Colombatti and the Racing leaders, Héctor Rinaldi was the president, they offered him the entire squad and even the coaching staff. There was no peso and we had to generate something to collect. Before that, we did a couple of friendlies in the Interior to raise money. I remember that Horacio Cordero and I were the accountants. One round they almost killed us in Pergamino, against Douglas Haig: we decided not to go out to play the second half because the money was not there. The field was full and there was only one police officer!
Costas’ anecdotes continued and were enhanced in his first two experiences as a coach in the Avellaneda team, one between 1999 and 2000 and the other in 2007. “We are experiencing very difficult times here. During the time of bankruptcy, fans came to bring money to my house to save the club. At that moment the trustee Liliana Ripoll, who was portrayed in a song, helped us a lot, it must be said; Over time she fell in love with the club. The magnifying glass should be placed on the judges or the other trustees who were worse. We went from owing one million to owing 65 million. She beat us to death because it was a war in which there was everything: pressure, they shot you down, they stopped by your house to threaten you. They did all of that to stay with the club,” he says.
-And while all that was happening, you had to put together the team for Sunday…
-In addition to directing, I had to go talk to President Menem in Olivos, with Julio Grondona at the AFA. We did everything. Also at one point bank accounts were opened in my name and that of Teté Quiroz to save the Tita property. I still remember the weekends at Tita full of fans of all ages helping out. That didn’t happen anywhere in the world. Sometimes I think that the fans are undervalued.
-Now you found yourself with a totally different Racing?
-Racing like this is what we fight for all our lives and I enjoy seeing how it is. Before we were in the newspapers only for the bad things. The other day I was talking to Coco Basile, my soccer dad, and he told me that I had also been in some good ones, like the 1988 South American Super Cup. But the moments of happiness were just a few small steps.
-Did you expect this call to return?
-To be honest no. It had been a long time. But he wasn’t bad about that situation or angry. I’m fine if Racing does well, whether Costas or whoever is there. I’m not going to lie: I did wait for the call between 2015 and 2016, when I had just won a couple of titles and the Suruga with Independiente Santa Fe. Anyway, my friends know that I was never crazy about going back. Look, the last time I despaired was when we lost the championship that Boca won against River. Days later we had to play a tiebreaker against Tigre in Huracán and I didn’t want people to turn their backs on the team. I called a couple of fans to tell them that they had to be accompanying. And we put 18 thousand people in the Ducó.
-Are you a coach from Basile’s school? How do you manage the egos in the locker room?
-You have to treat footballers well. I am a coach who is close to the players, close. I think that to get the best out of them you have to have them right. This year we are going to play many tournaments and you have to have a wrist to lead the group. Internal competition has to exist to enhance. If you look back and there is no one to overshadow you, you inevitably relax.
-Are preseasons very different now than those during your time as a player?
-Yeah. Before they took us from Mar del Plata to Miramar and made us run back. That doesn’t exist anymore. The times were also different. There you did physicals all January, in February soccer and you just started playing in March. Now soccer practices are 30 minutes and they don’t happen every week. When I was a player, on Thursdays there were 90 minutes of football no matter what. If you look, before the players had stronger legs, with more muscles, the same tail. Now everything is a little more dynamic than before; a different intensity is found.
-Currently there is more pressure and in all sectors of the field…
-It is true that there is not so much space: they pressure you a lot. Soccer is more tactical too. Before that part was not worked on too much. Now you have to give the player many more tools, such as showing him videos of the teams and rival players. Being a coach now takes much more time than before. But be careful, there is something that remains the same: the game still depends on the player.
-Once the ball moves…
-Of course, the ball moves and it depends on the player because during the week you can put together the attack or defense play, but then there is the one on one, the improvisation. That’s the advantage; that is the basis of everything.
-Then you are a coach who allows the player to make his mark, to improvise.
-Of course, if not we are going to end up managing everything as if it were artificial intelligence. I think you have to give the player freedom. The footballer needs that freedom to change, because they see the football, they see the play and they have to make that decision. I like that it leaves that scheme. We are about giving the idea, indicating the play, planning so that his teammates give him three, four passing options. But then I also want the player to decide if he wants to go inside or out, if he wants to dribble or pass.
-In Racing you have Juanfer Quintero, Roger Martínez, Johan Carbonero, players who are characterized more by creating than by scoring. Can you impose tactical discipline and demand effort, retreat, pressure, from those footballers who stand out for what they do with the ball?
-We will try. I talk a lot with them. We know what Juanfer is and his teammate knows that he is not going to follow you all the way to the rival side. But he also knows that he can give us a lot by being loose there on the backs of the midfielders. So we have to know how to take advantage of it. Anyway, you always give them something tactical, even though we know that Juanfer’s strength is when he has the ball at his feet.
-Do you think Roger Martínez is behind number 9?
-You can play wherever you want: you just have to be physically and mentally well. He can play as a 9, as a midfielder, even on the side. The other day I was talking to him and I told him that, not being at 100 percent, last year he scored two or three goals that show you that he is different. Juanfer the same. They are footballers who define the game for you at any moment.
-Have you already decided if you are going to play with one or two central midfielders?
-Not yet. We are going to see according to the games. Santiago Sosa just joined, we are recovering Bruno Zuculini little by little. There we have Lolo Miranda, who is very enthusiastic and we take him as a great reinforcement. The same as Agustín Almendra. Each one will have to take advantage of the opportunities. The good thing is that we are going to play many games throughout the year.
“I know that Racing fans need an international tournament,” says Costas. Photo: Matías Martin Campaya-In the presentation conference you said that “we have to stop competing, we have to win.” Do you have a plus in knowing what the fan thinks?
-Racing is good today, very good. We win tournaments and we have to continue winning. I know that the fans need an international tournament. You can’t relax because you won three or four local tournaments. Racing can compete with River and Boca. After all, this is football. When I went to the Bolivian National Team I said: “We have to start competing.” Because there was no competition there. But in Racing you have to put on that backpack of going for more.
-Do you dream of the possibility of being a champion?
-I think about putting together the team and about the day to day. I see the team very involved. We brought hungry players, so I like to talk to them before they come. Some were given more and better things in other places and they still came to fight here. It is good that they feel the commitment of the place where they are going to be.
-Would you understand if a fan insults you or insults you if things don’t go well?
-In Argentina we insult Maradona and Messi, how can they not insult Costas? Anyway, I’m focused on things going well. Everything I did and do in Racing I do from the heart.
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