Jorge Costa, Champions League-winning Porto Captain, Dies Aged 53

The erstwhile Porto skipper Jorge Costa has died astatine nan property of 53 aft suffering a cardiac apprehension astatine nan club’s training centre.

The erstwhile defender, who was serving arsenic Porto’s head of master shot successful his 2nd play successful nan role, was rushed to infirmary but could not beryllium saved.

“Throughout his life, some connected and disconnected nan pitch, Jorge Costa embodied nan values that specify FC Porto: dedication, leadership, passion and an unshakeable tone of conquest,” nan nine said successful a statement. “He near his people connected generations of fans and became a awesome of Portismo.”

Over his career, Costa played 530 games successful each competitions – 383 for Porto and 50 for Portugal’s nationalist team. Costa earned nan nickname Animal from teammate Fernando Couto during their business successful cardinal defence. As captain, he led Porto to Uefa Cup glory successful 2003 and a Champions League triumph successful 2004 nether head José Mourinho.

The defender was 1 of six players to triumph 5 consecutive Portuguese convention championships pinch Porto, alongside Aloísio, Ljubinko Drulović, Paulinho Santos, Rui Barros and Folha.

Costa returned to nan nine successful April 2024 arsenic head nether caller president André Villas-Boas. “Jorge Costa’s bequest will ever stay live successful nan representation of each Porto fans. You will ne'er beryllium forgotten, Captain,” nan nine added.

Charlton Athletic, nan London nine wherever Costa spent half nan 2001-02 play connected indebtedness to play Premier League football, making 24 appearances, released a short societal media statement, saying: “We are profoundly saddened to study of nan passing of erstwhile subordinate Jorge Costa astatine nan property of 53. The thoughts of everyone astatine Charlton Athletic are pinch Jorge’s family and friends astatine this difficult time.”