Custódio Castro

Club

International

Custódio was born in the village of Brito, Guimarães. From 2001 to 2007 he played for Sporting CP, making his Primeira Liga debut on 23 March 2002 in a 2–0 home win against Salgueiros; he finished the 2003–04 season with 27 league appearances. In the 2006–07 campaign, coach Paulo Bento named Custódio captain in recognition of his history at Sporting and consistent displays in the previous seasons. Incidentally, in that timeframe, he also fell out of favour in the team's rotation and, in June 2007, was sold to Russian Premier League side Dynamo Moscow. Custódio returned to Portugal in January 2009, re-joining childhood club Vitória de Guimarães along with Cícero Semedo. On 31 August of the following year, he moved to Minho neighbours Braga. In his first season at the Estádio Municipal de Braga, Custódio battled for first-choice status with Brazilians Leandro Salino and Vandinho, but managed to appear in 21 competitive matches. On 5 February 2011, he scored from close range in a 2–1 away win against Marítimo, helping his team finish fourth in the league. He netted arguably the most important goal of his career on 5 May, heading from a corner kick for the game's only in a home victory over Benfica in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals second leg, with Braga qualifying for the final on the away goals rule. Custódio spent the first half of 2011–12 on the sidelines, nursing a serious knee injury. When he returned to full fitness, however, he benefitted from Djamal Mahamat's…

A Portugal under-21 international, Custódio appeared in two UEFA European Championship editions, 2004 and 2006. He was selected by full side manager Bento for his 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2012, and made his debut on 2 June, a 1–3 friendly loss with Turkey in Lisbon. In the finals in Poland and Ukraine, he played 20 minutes in the decisive 2–1 group stage defeat of the Netherlands after replacing the injured Raul Meireles.

On 3 March 2020, Custódio left Braga's under-17s and was appointed at the helm of the first team, replacing Sporting-bound Ruben Amorim. On his debut three days later, he managed a 3–1 home victory over Portimonense. Custódio resigned on 1 July 2020 with five games left of the campaign, having won two and lost three of his six fixtures. Two years later, he was put in charge of the reserves. On 3 June 2025, Custódio signed as head coach of Alverca, newly returned to the top division. He achieved an 11th-place finish in his only season, then left.