Diego Costa was twice the Premier League's top scorer as the maverick striker fired Chelsea to two top flight titles, but his wild antics off the pitch were just as unforgettable for his team-mates
18:05, 14 Oct 2025
Diego Costa left, celebrates with David Luiz, Eden Hazard and Willian at Chelsea
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Diego Costa left, celebrates with David Luiz, Eden Hazard and Willian at Chelsea(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Diego Costa banged in 20 goals in each of the two seasons Chelsea won the Premier League during his time at Stamford Bridge - and his ball control seemingly wasn't bad either.
The maverick ex-striker, who even at the age of 37 is still getting into scraps with rivals during 'legends' matches, loved to play the role of the pantomime villain in West London. His combination of aggression and guile made him a firm fan favourite for the Blues, while his love of the 'dark arts' of football earned him the moniker of King S***house' from supporters.
The Brazil-born Spanish international celebrated his birthday last week, bringing back memories of his madcap escapades en route to lifting those two league titles and a League Cup across three seasons in England. The party loving forward had a nightclub installed in his Surrey mansion then had it shipped brick-by-brick to Spain when he left for Atletico Madrid.
Costa's former team-mate John Obi Mikel, once described him as "absolutely crazy" and claimed he would randomly grab players' private parts when they were in the dressing room. He also said the fact Costa didn't speak a word of English meant his bizarre antics were all the more bewildering.
"Diego Costa [was the biggest joker at Chelsea]," the former midfielder said on The Obi One podcast. "He was a crazy, crazy guy. He comes in the dressing room and he just messes about. On the pitch during he's training he's fine but after training in the dressing he's absolutely crazy.
Diego Costa was a wild influence both on and off the pitch at Chelsea
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Diego Costa was a wild influence both on and off the pitch at Chelsea(Image: X01095)
"He screams, he speaks no word of English, he's cursing and screaming and shouting and dancing, and flipping everybody with a towel, grabbing what he can grab. He can grab your private parts, everything."
Some members of the squad would let Costa off the hook because he was Brazilian, but Mikel said he wasn't sure that was a good enough excuse. "If you're saying this is your culture, Oscar is not like that, Ramires is not like that, Willian is not like that," the former Nigerian international laughed.
"How come you're the only one who is like this from Brazil? It's definitely not your culture, that's just who you are."
Costa joined the Blues from Atletico Madrid in 2014 and scored 59 goals in 120 games before moving back to the Spanish capital in 2018. He formed deadly partnerships with the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard as Chelsea romped to title wins in 2015 and 2017.
Despite his malevolent reputation, you might be surprised to read that Costa was never in fact sent in off in a Chelsea shirt. He did, however, receive a retrospective three-match ban following two stamp incidents in a victory over Liverpool in 2015.
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An off-field bust-up with manager Antonio Conte forced him into exile at the end of the 2016/17 season and he left the club acrimoniously in January 2018. After a stint back at Atletico, and a brief spell in his native Brazil, he returned to English football with Wolves in 2022.
He received a standing ovation from Chelsea fans when Wolves visited Stamford Bridge, though his stint at Molineux was a largely forgettable one. He scored just once in 25 appearances, and left the club after just one season.
He last played for Brazilian outfits Botafogo and Gremio, before bringing the curtain down on his career in 2024.