Overview
Bruno Costa is a highly experienced football executive who has worked across South and North America, leaving a significant mark at the club and federation levels. Known for his strategic vision, calm leadership, and expertise in building football departments from the ground up, Costa has held major roles at Fluminense FC, Fortaleza EC, San Jose Earthquakes, and the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF).
From developing youth systems at a national level to qualifying a Brazilian team for the prestigious Copa Libertadores, Costa’s journey reflects a blend of football intelligence, adaptability, and international scope.
Personal Life
Born and raised in Brazil, Bruno Costa brings the values of humility, discipline, and lifelong learning into his work. Outside of football, he’s known to enjoy reading, especially books on leadership and human behavior, and he strongly values time with his family. His personal experiences have shaped his professional philosophy—calm under pressure, methodical in planning, and always focused on people before processes.
Bruno is also passionate about mentoring young professionals and sharing knowledge about the complexities of modern football operations. His career reflects a quiet, determined leadership style shaped by a deep understanding of both South American and international football cultures.
Early Career & the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF)
Bruno Costa’s career began in youth football development, where his analytical mind and structured approach quickly caught attention. He joined the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF), where he played a key role in national team operations and youth development pathways. At CBF, Costa worked closely with the men’s youth national teams, contributing to the preparation, logistics, and structural planning required for success at the international level.
His time at the federation gave him firsthand experience with top Brazilian talent and a unique view into the developmental backbone of Brazilian football. It was also where he honed his strategic thinking—translating football philosophy into actionable plans on and off the pitch.
Fluminense FC: Academy and Title-Winning Years
From 2007 to 2010, Costa served as Assistant General Manager and Academy Director at Fluminense FC, one of Brazil’s most prestigious clubs. During his time there, the club won the Brazilian Serie A title, reached the finals of the Copa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores, and became one of the top academies in the country. Under his academy leadership, more than 40 players graduated to the first team, contributing over $70 million in player transfer revenue. His work helped solidify Fluminense’s reputation as a powerhouse for player development and competitive success, both nationally and internationally.
Experience in the United States – San Jose Earthquakes
Following his work at Fluminense and CBF, Costa took his first international step by joining San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer (MLS). There, he took on a key football operations and scouting role, helping reshape the club’s long-term sporting structure.
Costa was instrumental in refining the player recruitment strategy, building data-informed scouting systems, and establishing internal processes that aligned the technical staff with club management. His understanding of both Latin American talent and North American football dynamics made him a valuable bridge between markets.
His MLS experience gave him valuable insights into the commercial side of football, league structures, and multicultural team environments.
Return to Brazil – Sporting Director at Fortaleza EC
In 2022, Bruno Costa was appointed Sporting Director at Fortaleza Esporte Clube, one of Brazil’s most exciting projects in recent years. His arrival came at a time when the club was seeking greater consistency in performance, smarter recruitment, and international competitiveness.
During his time at Fortaleza, Costa led the sporting department through a historic period. Under his guidance:
- The club qualified for the Copa Libertadores, marking a major milestone in its modern history.
- The squad was strengthened with strategic signings and internal development.
- He implemented efficient, data-driven processes in recruitment and performance analysis.
- He built a stronger link between the academy and the first team.
Costa’s leadership played a central role in professionalizing the club’s sporting vision, enabling Fortaleza to compete both domestically and continentally with greater consistency and ambition.
What’s Next?
Having recently concluded his chapter at Fortaleza, Bruno Costa is currently exploring his next steps in football. Whether his future lies in Brazil, Europe, or North America again, one thing is clear: his experience, philosophy, and leadership will be a major asset to any project seeking structure, vision, and long-term success.
Our Exclusive Interview with Bruno Costa
Who is Bruno Costa outside of football?
Outside of football, I’m a husband and a father before anything else. My family is the core of my life my wife has been the biggest pillar in my journey. She’s been by my side through every move, every challenge, and every new beginning. Her strength and support have allowed me to focus on my work with clarity and stability. And of course, being a father changes your entire perspective. My child motivates me to be a better person every day, not just a better professional.
I’m also someone who values stillness in a world that moves fast. I enjoy calm moments, especially early in the morning or late in the evening. I reflect a lot, and I’ve built a habit of meditation into my daily routine. It grounds me. Professionally, things can get chaotic but internally, I try to stay balanced. That’s who I am: a quiet thinker, a family man, and someone who believes in doing things the right way even if that means taking the longer road.
What kind of books or subjects do you enjoy reading?
I’m constantly searching for knowledge. Not just in football, but across industries and sports. There are so many great books and resources out there what matters to me is learning how people lead, how organizations are built, how resilience is developed. I read across different sports, but also dive into leadership, business strategy, and human behavior. For me, learning is a lifelong process.
I don’t look for quick lessons I like to reflect on what I read and apply it in my work. I believe that the best leaders are the ones who never stop learning, no matter how far they’ve come. I also love talking to people and listening to their experiences. Sometimes the best insights don’t come from books but from real conversations.
Describe your daily routine when you’re working inside a club.
My routine is structured but also flexible because in football, no two days are ever the same. I usually start early, reviewing any urgent matters that came in overnight. The first part of the day is about aligning the team: touching base with coaches, performance staff, and department leads to make sure everyone is moving in the same direction.
I prioritize communication it’s the foundation of high performance. I always want people around me to feel clarity in the plan, but also feel empowered to contribute. Throughout the day, I shift between operational matters and longer term strategy. I carve out time for scouting meetings, data analysis sessions, and, very importantly, informal conversations with staff. Those often reveal the most about how the team is functioning.
I try to end each day with 15-20 minutes of quiet reflection. That could mean reviewing the day or simply meditating. Football can be intense so building space into the routine is key for staying grounded.
What do you do to disconnect and recharge from the pressures of the game?
Time with my family is the number one way I recharge. My wife and my child bring me back to what really matters. Football can consume your time and energy completely, so I’ve learned how essential it is to step away and be fully present at home. Even something simple like a walk together or reading to my child helps me refocus and re center.
I also meditate. It’s something I discovered a few years ago, and now it’s part of my life. Even 10 or 15 minutes of focused breathing can shift your mindset completely. It helps me detach from the noise and get back in touch with myself.
I believe that if you’re not taking care of your own energy and mental health, you’re not showing up fully for your team or your family. So disconnecting isn’t a luxury it’s a necessity.
Who has had the biggest influence on your journey so far?
There are many people I’m grateful for, but without question, my wife has been the most influential. Her belief in me, her strength during difficult transitions, and her ability to keep our life balanced those things have made my career possible. Behind every move, every decision, she’s been there offering perspective and support.
Professionally, I’ve had the chance to work with brilliant minds at CBF, in MLS, and in Brazil. But even more than technical knowledge, I’ve learned from people who lead with integrity. People who don’t just talk about values they live them. And I try to bring that into my own leadership every day.
What were the most valuable lessons you learned while working at the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF)?
Working at CBF was a foundational experience for me. I had the opportunity to understand how high level football operates at the national team level, especially with youth categories. The margin for error is very small you need to prepare with precision, anticipate problems, and support the technical staff in a way that lets them focus fully on the field.
I learned how to think strategically while managing extreme detail. You don’t just plan for what’s happening today you prepare for what’s happening months from now. And when you’re representing a country, the stakes are different. Every decision carries weight, and the level of professionalism expected is very high. It taught me how to work under pressure while still keeping a long term mindset.
How was your transition into Major League Soccer (MLS) with San Jose Earthquakes?
It was eye opening. MLS is a unique league, with its own set of rules, financial models, and structural constraints. Coming from Brazil, I had to adapt quickly to a different football culture but that challenge was one of the most valuable experiences of my career.
What impressed me most was the level of organization and the long term vision many clubs have. In San Jose, I was involved in building processes that aligned performance, scouting, and development in a very structured way. We worked to bridge gaps between departments and to think globally in a league that’s still growing.
It also helped me become more flexible. When you operate in two completely different football environments South America and the U.S. you learn to build systems that respect local context but also raise global standards.
What are you most proud of from your time at Fortaleza EC?
Qualifying for the Copa Libertadores is definitely a highlight it was a historic moment for the club and a result of a lot of hard work behind the scenes. But beyond that, I’m most proud of the structure we built. We created a more professional, integrated sporting department that could support the club’s growth beyond a single season.
We improved the recruitment process, introduced better use of data, and brought in staff who shared the vision. We also paid attention to internal culture how people work together, how departments communicate. That kind of cultural alignment is what sustains success in the long run.
How do you approach building a successful football department?
It always starts with people. You need the right staff not just skilled, but aligned in values and committed to collective goals. Once you have the people, you create the framework: define responsibilities, build transparent systems, and make communication the top priority.
I also believe in using data wisely. It’s not about replacing intuition it’s about enhancing it. Data helps you ask better questions, reduce risk, and see trends that aren’t obvious.
Finally, planning is everything. Short term results are important, but without a mid to long term vision, you’re always reacting. A successful department needs to be proactive, consistent, and constantly learning.
What’s next for Bruno Costa?
Right now, I’m taking time to reflect. I’ve been fortunate to work in incredible environments, and I want my next step to align with who I am and what I believe in. I’m having conversations, exploring opportunities, and staying open.
What matters most to me is joining a project with purpose where there’s trust, shared vision, and space to build something meaningful. I don’t just want to be part of a club; I want to help shape its future in a sustainable and human centered way. Wherever that is, I’m excited for the next chapter.