Franco Costanzo Geymonat (born 5 September 1980) is an Argentine former football goalkeeper who last played for Chilean club Universidad Católica of the Primera División.
He has earned the reputation of being an eccentric goalkeeper by often dribbling the ball past the opposition's strikers and by making somewhat unorthodox saves.
Early in his career, Costanzo was once considered an excellent prospect; however, due to a few lengthy injuries, he has only recently managed to fulfill his full potential.
Costanzo started playing professionally with Buenos Aires giants Club Atlético River Plate in 2000 and made his first-team debut in 2001.
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.
Swiss side FC Basel acquired his services in July 2006 for £1.4 million after the departure of veteran goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbühler.
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.
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.
[7] In the Swiss Cup via FC Léchelles, SC Binningen, Grasshopper Club, Stade Nyonnais and in the semi-final Thun, Basel advanced to the final, and winning this 4–1 against AC Bellinzona they won the competition.
[9] On 17 July 2008, the day before the start of the 2008–09 Swiss Super League season, Costanzo was named Basel captain and he signed a new contract until 2011.
[10] His first game as captain was on 18 July 2008, in a 2–1 win over BSC Young Boys at the Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf, in which he was named Man of the Match.
Here Basel were matched with Barcelona, Sporting CP and Shakhtar Donetsk but ended the group in last position winning just one point after a 1–1 draw in Camp Nou.
[11] At the end of the 2008–09 Super League season Basel were third in the table, seven points behind new champions Zürich and one adrift of runners-up Young Boys.
After a goalless 90 minutes and extra time, YB decided the penalty shoot-out 3–2 and advanced to the final to become runners-up, as Sion became cup winners.
[20] With Basel, Costanzo won his third Swiss Championship at the end of the 2010–11 season, topping the table just one point clear of rivals Zürich.
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.