Helena Costa Biography: Age, Height, Controversy, Net Worth, Parents, Appointment, Husband, Football,

Helena Costa is a trailblazing Portuguese football professional who gained prominence not for scoring goals, but for breaking entrenched gender barriers in a male-dominated sport.

She became widely known when French club Clermont Foot announced her as their new manager in 2014, a landmark moment as she was the first woman ever appointed to lead a professional men’s team in the top two divisions of a major European league.

Although her tenure as manager was brief, the announcement itself generated global headlines and positioned her as a significant figure in the push for greater inclusion in professional football management.

Her subsequent work as a scout for several high-profile clubs and her current role as a sporting director further cement her reputation as an experienced and influential figure in football operations.

Profile

• Full names: Helena Margarida dos Santos Costa
• Date of birth: 15 January 1978
• Age: 47 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Almeirim, Portugal
• Nationality: Portuguese
• Profession: Sporting Director, Football Manager, Scout
• Height: 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm)
• Eye color: Brown
• Hair color: Brown
• Parents: N/A
• Siblings: N/A
• Spouse: N/A
• Children: N/A
• Relationship status: N/A
• Religion: Christian
• Ethnicity: Portuguese
• Net worth: $1.5 million

Early Life and Education

Helena Margarida dos Santos Costa, who is now 47 years old, was born on January 15, 1978, in the town of Almeirim, Portugal. She spent her formative years there. Her educational path focused entirely on the theoretical and practical application of sports science.

She attended the Technical University of Lisbon, where she dedicated herself to her studies and graduated with a master’s degree in sports science.

This academic background provided the foundation for her rigorous approach to football management and scouting that she would apply throughout her career.

Personal Life

Helena Costa maintains a highly private personal life. There is no publicly available information about her current relationship status, whether she is married, divorced, or has children.

She does not publicly discuss her spouse or family life. She manages to keep a clear separation between her high-profile professional football career and her private affairs.

Career

Helena Costa’s career began within the youth system of the prestigious Portuguese club Benfica, where she coached various male junior teams for 13 years and secured two youth titles. Her talent led to international appointments; she managed the women’s national teams of both Qatar (2010-2012) and Iran (2012-2014).

The most pivotal moment of her career occurred in May 2014 when she was announced as the manager of Clermont Foot, a professional men’s team in France’s Ligue 2. This was a historically significant appointment.

However, she resigned abruptly before coaching an official match, citing a lack of respect and communication from the club’s management, specifically that the sporting director was signing players without consulting her.

Following this high-profile departure, Costa shifted her focus to scouting. She joined Scottish giants Celtic FC, working as a scout covering leagues in France, Spain, and Portugal. She later held a scouting position with German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt.

Before her current appointment, she served as the Head of Scouting for the EFL Championship club Watford, leaving that post in December 2023. As of January 2025, Helena Costa works as the Sporting Director for the Portuguese club Estoril Praia.

Net Worth

Helena Costa now has an estimated net worth of approximately $1.5 million, accrued from her work as a sporting director, football manager, scout.

Controversy

The primary controversy surrounding Helena Costa relates to her abrupt resignation from Clermont Foot in June 2014, just weeks after her landmark appointment. Her departure created a media storm. Costa publicly criticized the club’s leadership, specifically club president Claude Michy and sporting director Olivier Chavanon, alleging unprofessional conduct and a “total disregard for basic operating rules.”

She stated players were being recruited without her input or knowledge, which she found disrespectful to her professional authority as the manager.

Social Media

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