Franco Costanzo

River Plate and Alavés

Costanzo started playing professionally with Buenos Aires giants Club Atlético River Plate in 2000 and made his first-team debut in 2001. He had become the first-choice goalkeeper by 2002 and was looked upon by many as one of the most talented goalkeepers in South America. However, injury started to plague him and when he returned from the sidelines, Germán Lux had established himself as River Plate's Number 1. His search for first-team action then took him to Spain's La Liga as he transferred to Deportivo Alavés in 2005. He was first choice at Alavés straight away, but when they were relegated into the Segunda División, he asked the manager, José María Salmerón, to be put on the transfer list.

Basel

Swiss side FC Basel acquired his services in July 2006 for £1.4 million after the departure of veteran goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbühler. Costanzo joined Basel's first team for their 2006–07 season under head coach Christian Gross, who was starting his eighth season in that position. Costanzo's Basel career did not get off to a great start, he made a blunder in his first match against FC St. Gallen on 30 July 2006 and caused the 3–2 away defeat. However, he played excellent in the second half of the 2006–07 season and was voted the FCB Player of the Year. In the second qualifying round of the 2006–07 UEFA Cup Basel were drawn against FC Vaduz from Liechtenstein, narrowly progressing on the away goals rule after a 2–2 aggregate draw. In the…

Costanzo was an Argentine international at Under-20 level, and was part of the Argentina squad that took part at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship. At senior level, he made his only main team appearance in Argentina's 4–2 2006 World Cup Qualifying win over Uruguay at the River Plate Stadium on 9 October 2004.

Costanzo is married to Carla. The couple have three children. Their two daughters are named Emma and Zoe, and their son named Ciro. All three children were born in Basel.

River Plate Primera Division Argentina: Clausura 2002, Clausura 2003, Clausura 2004 FC Basel Swiss Super League: 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11 Swiss Cup: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10 FC Barcelona La Liga: 2009–10, 2010–11, 2010–11 Champions League: 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12 Olympiacos Super League Greece: 2011–12 Greek Cup: 2011–12 Universidad Católica Primera División de Chile: Clausura 2015–16, Apertura 2016–17 Supercopa de Chile: 2016