Jorge Costa scored 20 goals for Porto
Former Porto captain Jorge Costa has died at the age of 53 after suffering a cardiac arrest at the club’s training facility, the Portuguese side has confirmed.
The defender famously captained Porto to Champions League triumph under the guidance of manager Jose Mourinho in 2004 and earned 50 caps for the Portugal national team.
Costa also had a spell in the Premier League, spending a season on loan with Charlton Athletic in 2001-02 before retiring from professional football in 2006.
Transitioning into management, the centre-back held positions at 16 different clubs before assuming the role of Porto’s director of professional football last season.
“Throughout his life, both on and off the pitch, Jorge Costa embodied the values that define FC Porto: dedication, leadership, passion and an unshakeable spirit of conquest,” the club stated. “He left his mark on generations of fans.”
This marks the third unexpected passing of a former Porto player this summer, following the tragic deaths of former loanee Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who spent six years at the club, in July.
Costa progressed through Porto’s youth academy and subsequently made 324 appearances for the first team.
Before his departure in 2005, he amassed an impressive 24 trophies, including the Champions League, UEFA Cup, and eight Primeira Liga titles.
In 2000, Costa was awarded the Portuguese Golden Ball, an accolade recognizing the league’s most outstanding player.
His managerial career led him to various destinations across the globe, with tenures in Portugal, Romania, Cyprus, Tunisia, India, and Gabon.
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