Spanish
Lisbon (EFE).- The former captain and current director of professional football at Porto, Jorge Costa, died this Tuesday after suffering a cardiorespiratory arrest at the age of 53 when he was at the club's training and formation center, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) reported.
Previously, as a coach, he was Romanian champion with CFR Cluj and managed teams such as Braga and Farense or national teams such as Gabon, as well as passing through Tunisian and Cypriot football.
However, Jorge Costa will be remembered for his time on the field, where he became an icon of Porto, the club where he trained and played from 1992 to 2005.
The former center-back played 383 matches with the 'dragons' and won eight Leagues, five Cups and five Super Cups of Portugal, in addition to captaining the team to victory in a Europa League and a Champions League, both under the management of José Mourinho.
Penafiel, Marítimo, the English Charlton or the Belgian Standard Liege were other teams in which Jorge Costa played.
With Portugal, he played 50 matches with the senior national team and was part of the 'Golden Generation', along with players like Luís Figo or Rui Costa, who were proclaimed U-20 world champions in 1991.
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The FPF lamented in a statement published on its website the death of Costa, «one of the most outstanding players of a fundamental generation for the consolidation of Portuguese football».
«It is a shock this unexpected and premature departure of Jorge Costa, an athlete of my generation and an example of dedication and commitment to the teams he was part of and to our national team. My deepest condolences to the family and friends», wrote the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, on his X account after learning the news.
Director of Porto since 2024
Costa assumed the position of director of professional football at Porto in 2024, with the inauguration of former coach André Villas Boas as the club's new president.Previously, as a coach, he was Romanian champion with CFR Cluj and managed teams such as Braga and Farense or national teams such as Gabon, as well as passing through Tunisian and Cypriot football.
However, Jorge Costa will be remembered for his time on the field, where he became an icon of Porto, the club where he trained and played from 1992 to 2005.
The former center-back played 383 matches with the 'dragons' and won eight Leagues, five Cups and five Super Cups of Portugal, in addition to captaining the team to victory in a Europa League and a Champions League, both under the management of José Mourinho.
Penafiel, Marítimo, the English Charlton or the Belgian Standard Liege were other teams in which Jorge Costa played.
With Portugal, he played 50 matches with the senior national team and was part of the 'Golden Generation', along with players like Luís Figo or Rui Costa, who were proclaimed U-20 world champions in 1991.
