contract with him, and also attempted unsuccessfully to rescind it through the Italian Football League. International career Costinha made his debut for Portugal on 14 October 1998, in a 3–0 home win against Slovakia for the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifiers. He was selected for the final stages, where he scored an injury time header against Romania (same score). He also played at Euro 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup tournaments. During the latter, on 25 June, he took part in the Battle of Nuremberg, being one of four players sent off in the 1–0 round-of-16 victory over the Netherlands after two bookable offences, the second being a handball. Costinha finished his international career with 53 caps and two goals, having been rarely called during the Euro 2008 qualifying stage. Coaching career On 23 February 2010, the 35-year-old Costinha left Atalanta by mutual consent. He immediately retired, being named shortly afterwards as Sporting CP's director of football, succeeding the sacked Ricardo Sá Pinto, his former international teammate. On 9 February 2011, the day after an interview to Sport TV in which he criticised the club's board of directors, he was dismissed. In June 2011, in the same capacity, Costinha joined Servette FC, with the Swiss team being managed by countryman João Alves. It was reported that the pair did not see eye to eye on certain issues, and in November 2011, Alves was relieved of his duties and replaced by João Carlos Pereira. The team's results worsened under Peireira and in April 2012, both Pereira and Costinha were fired, with Alves being reinstated as manager; Costinha reportedly contested the terms of his removal, claiming that his contract extended until June 2013. Costinha was hired as manager of S.C. Beira-Mar on 18 February 2013, replacing Ulisses Morais. He left the club on 22 May, after its top-flight relegation. On 12 June 2013, Costinha was appointed at fellow league team F.C. Paços de Ferreira, who had made the qualifying rounds of the Champions League for the first time in its history; his midfield partner for Portugal and three clubs, Maniche, was hired as assistant. Costinha was sacked after only four months, however, due to poor results. On 20 June 2016, Costinha took over at Académica de Coimbra, recently relegated from the top division. Maniche again assisted him, until leaving for personal reasons in October. On 30 May 2017, Costinha was appointed as