Latest news with #JorgeCosta
News18
6 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Mourinho, Ronaldo pay tribute to Jorge Costa; bid farewell
New Delhi [India], August 6 (ANI): Former Mumbai City FC (MCFC) head coach and FC Porto legend Jorge Costa passed away on Tuesday at the age of 53 following a sudden cardiac arrest. He was FC Porto's Director of Professional Football at the time of his passing, as per the official website of the Indian Super League (ISL).A commanding figure both on the touchline and during his playing days, Costa took charge of Mumbai City FC in 2018. In his two seasons at the helm, he led the club to the Indian Super League (ISL) semi-finals in respected for his leadership on and off the pitch, Costa enjoyed a remarkable playing career with FC Porto. He captained the side to UEFA Champions League glory under Jose Mourinho in 2004, a victory remembered as one of European football's greatest underdog now the head coach of Turkish club Fenerbahce SK, was visibly emotional and broke down in tears during a pre-match press conference upon learning of Costa's passing.'It's part of my history that goes," a tearful Mourinho said.'You have captains and you have leaders. It's not always about the armband but what you represent. And Jorge was one of these guys who cleaned the garbage and let the coach do his job as a coach," he added.A few years ago, Mourinho shared how Jorge Costa's leadership on the pitch made him one of the most reliable captains he had ever worked with.'I had captains who were not leaders. I had one at Porto, Jorge Costa. One day, we were losing a match against a team called Belenenses, we were down 2-0 at halftime. I was walking to the locker room, and everyone saw I was I was about to enter, Jorge Costa told me, 'Wait outside for two minutes, please.' He went in, closed the door, and did the dirty work for me. Then he opened the door and said, 'Coach us.' Because in the locker room, he did everything I would have won 3-2. He was a centre-back, had never scored goals in his life; that day, he scored two. A captain and a leader are very different things. You can't buy leaders. You can't manufacture leaders. And when you have them, your team is one step ahead."Later on Tuesday, Jose Mourinho took to social media to pay his final tribute to his 'top warrior."
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report: Jorge Costa dies aged 53 as tributes pour in from across football
Porto mourns as Jorge Costa passes away aged 53 Portuguese football is in mourning following the death of Jorge Costa, a legendary figure at FC Porto, who died at the age of 53 after suffering a cardiac arrest at the club's training ground. A former captain and stalwart defender, Costa embodied the relentless spirit and values that came to define Porto throughout the modern era. Costa, who graduated from Porto's youth academy, was synonymous with leadership, resilience and loyalty. Over two decades, he carved out an iconic career with the club, most notably captaining them to UEFA Champions League glory under José Mourinho in 2004. He made 324 appearances for Porto, lifting 24 trophies, including eight Primeira Liga titles and the UEFA Cup. Lifelong bond with Porto and Portugal Costa's international impact extended to the Portugal national team, where he earned 50 caps and featured in major tournaments. Yet it was his connection to Porto that remained unbreakable. Following his retirement from playing in 2006, Costa moved into management with a career spanning 16 clubs across Europe, Asia and Africa. Most recently, he returned to Porto last season as director of professional football—a role that underlined his enduring ties with the club. In a statement, Porto reflected on his legacy: '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. He left his mark on generations of fans.' Mourning across football The footballing community has reacted with profound sadness. Fenerbahce manager José Mourinho, who coached Costa during Porto's golden era, gave an emotional tribute during a press conference ahead of his side's Champions League qualifier against Feyenoord. 'If he could speak with me now he would say, 'do your press conference, tomorrow play the game mister and win the game – forget about me',' Mourinho said. 'I'm going to try and do my job today and tomorrow, and then I'll cry after.' Costa's former team-mates have also paid tribute. One of Porto's Champions League winners described him as a 'legendary captain who inspired us all', while another said his 'dedication and legacy will always live in the unparalleled history of victories of FC Porto.' Career remembered across continents After winning the Portuguese Golden Ball in 2000, Costa briefly joined Charlton Athletic in the English Premier League, where he made 26 appearances. His no-nonsense defensive style left a lasting impression in London, with former Charlton boss Alan Curbishley calling him 'a fantastic person who always got his point across.' Costa's managerial journey included spells at Braga, Olhanense and Academica in Portugal, as well as clubs in Romania, Cyprus, Tunisia, India and Gabon. Braga said his 'passing has shaken the entire national sporting community.' His death marks a third tragedy this summer for Porto, following two other unexpected losses involving former players connected to the club. Jorge Costa's legacy is firmly etched into the fabric of both Porto and Portuguese football. From his fearless defending to his uncompromising leadership, he will be remembered as one of the game's true figures of strength and resolve.
The 42
7 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Jose Mourinho pays tribute to his Champions League-winning captain Jorge Costa
JOSE MOURINHO HAS paid tribute to his Porto Champions League-winning captain Jorge Costa, who has died at the age of 53. Reports in Portugal say the former centre-back, who was Porto's director of football, suffered a heart attack at the club's training ground. 'It's part of my history that goes,' an emotional Mourinho said at Fenerbahce's press conference ahead of their Champions League qualifier against Feyenoord in Rotterdam. 'You have captains, you have leaders. It's not about the armband, it's about what you represent. José Mourinho won in 2004 de Champions League met FC Porto. Jorge Costa was toen zijn aanvoerder. De voormalig profvoetballer overleed vandaag op 53-jarige leeftijd aan een hartstilstand. — Voetbalzone (@voetbalzonenl) August 5, 2025 'Jorge was one of these guys I used to say 'clean the garbage' and let the coach do his job as a coach and not as a leader of the dressing room. 'That's perfection for a coach when the captain does this work. Of course I'm very sad, but let's forget football. Advertisement 'Let's focus on him, Jorge, a young guy and his kids that I met when they were really kids and now, of course, they are grown men. 'Of course I am very sad but I'm here because if he could speak with me now he would tell me, 'Come on, do your press conference and tomorrow play the game and win mister. Forget about me'. 'That would be Jorge. So that's what I am going to try to do. Do my job today, do my job tomorrow, and then cry after.' Costa was a senior Porto player for 15 years between 1990 and 2005 and made 324 appearances for the club. As well as the Champions League, Costa won the UEFA Cup and eight Primeira Liga titles at Porto. He retired in 2006 after spending the final year of his career at Standard Liege in Belgium. Costa won 50 caps for Portugal and spent a season on loan at Charlton in the Premier League in 2001-02. Porto posted on X: 'Jorge Costa has left us. One of us, a leader, a captain, a role model. A symbol of FC Porto. Thank you for being FC Porto until the end. Goodbye, Jorge Costa.' Former Charlton boss Alan Curbishley said: 'He was a fantastic person who always got his point across. 'Everyone respected him because of his ability. He was a great lad.'
The Independent
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Jorge Costa death: Jose Mourinho pays tribute to Porto's Champions League-winning captain
Jose Mourinho has paid tribute to his FC Porto Champions League-winning captain Jorge Costa, who has died at the age of 53. Reports in Portugal say the former centre-back, who was Porto's director of football, suffered a heart attack at the club's training ground. "It's part of my history that goes," an emotional Mourinho said at Fenerbahce's press conference ahead of their Champions League qualifier against Feyenoord in Rotterdam. "You have captains, you have leaders. It's not about the armband, it's about what you represent. "Jorge was one of these guys I used to say 'clean the garbage' and let the coach do his job as a coach and not as a leader of the dressing room. "That's perfection for a coach when the captain does this work. Of course I'm very sad, but let's forget football. "Let's focus on him, Jorge, a young guy and his kids that I met when they were really kids and now, of course, they are grown men. "Of course I am very sad but I'm here because if he could speak with me now he would tell me, 'Come on, do your press conference and tomorrow play the game and win mister. Forget about me'. "That would be Jorge. So that's what I am going to try to do. Do my job today, do my job tomorrow, and then cry after." Costa was a senior Porto player for 15 years between 1990 and 2005 and made 324 appearances for the club. As well as the Champions League, Costa won the UEFA Cup and eight Primeira Liga titles at Porto. He retired in 2006 after spending the final year of his career at Standard Liege in Belgium. Costa won 50 caps for Portugal and spent a season on loan at Charlton in the Premier League in 2001/02. Porto posted on X: "Jorge Costa has left us. One of us, a leader, a captain, a role model. A symbol of FC Porto. Thank you for being FC Porto until the end. Goodbye, Jorge Costa." Former Charlton boss Alan Curbishley said: "He was a fantastic person who always got his point across.
Belfast Telegraph
7 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Porto in mourning after untimely death of club legend Jorge Costa aged 53: ‘He left his mark on generations of fans'
Former Porto captain Jorge Costa died on Tuesday at the age of 53 after suffering a cardiac arrest at the club's training centre, the Portuguese side said.
