Jorge Costa, the esteemed captain under Jose Mourinho during Porto’s Champions League triumph, passed away at the age of 53 due to cardiac arrest at Porto’s training facility in Olival, as reported by The Sun.
Known affectionately as “Tanque” (Tank) for his robust defending style, Costa was swiftly taken to São João hospital in critical condition after collapsing and was later declared deceased.
As reported by the Spanish media outlet Diario AS, Costa experienced discomfort on Tuesday, collapsed, and was initially assisted by the club’s medical staff using a defibrillator before being transported by ambulance to the hospital.
Earlier that day, Costa had granted an interview to SportTV but subsequently felt unwell, expressing discomfort about the intense heat several times during the morning.
Who was Jorge Costa?
Jorge Costa commenced his football journey at Porto in 1990 after graduating from their youth academy. He remained with the club for nearly 15 years, during which he was loaned out to Penafiel, Maritimo, and Charlton Athletic.
In 2005, after leaving Porto, Costa played his final professional season with Standard Liège (2005-06).
Post-retirement, Costa transitioned into management, coaching various clubs in different countries. Starting with Braga, he later managed teams such as Olhanense, Académica, CFR Cluj, AEL Limassol, Anorthosis, Paços Ferreira, Sfaxien, Arouca, Mumbai City, Farense, Gaz Metan Mediaș, and AVS.
He became head coach of Mumbai City FC in 2020 and also played for the Portugal national team, scoring twice in 50 appearances.
Costa managed the Gabon national team for two years and returned to Porto in 2024 to take on the role of director of football.
For further details, read: Jorge Costa’s Cause of Death: Former FC Porto Captain Dies at 53
One of the standout moments of Costa’s career was captaining Jose Mourinho’s team to Champions League victory in 2004. Moreover, he secured multiple league titles, a UEFA Cup, an Intercontinental Cup, and five Taça de Portugal trophies during his illustrious career.
FAQs:
1. What happened to Jorge Costa?
Costa tragically passed away on Tuesday due to a cardiac arrest.
2. How old was Jorge Costa?
He was 53 years old.
3. How long was Jorge Costa associated with Porto?
He played for Porto from 1990 to 2005.