Former FC Porto captain Jorge Costa has passed away at the age of 53 following a cardiac arrest at the club’s training centre, the Portuguese side has confirmed.
A towering figure in Portuguese football, Costa captained Porto to UEFA Champions League glory in 2004 under the leadership of José Mourinho. He earned 50 caps for the Portuguese national team and enjoyed a distinguished playing career that spanned nearly two decades.
Costa spent the 2001–02 season on loan with Charlton Athletic in the English Premier League and retired from professional football in 2006.
After hanging up his boots, he transitioned into management, taking on roles at 16 clubs around the world. Last season, he returned to Porto in a leadership capacity, serving as the club’s director of professional football.
“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 said in a tribute. “He left his mark on generations of fans.”
Costa’s sudden death marks the third unexpected loss of a former Porto player this summer, following the tragic passing of former loanee Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who spent six years with the club, in July.
A product of Porto’s youth academy, Costa made 324 senior appearances for the club and won an impressive 24 trophies. His honours include the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, eight Primeira Liga titles, and the Portuguese Golden Ball in 2000—awarded to the league’s best player.
His managerial journey took him across multiple continents, with stints in Portugal, Romania, Cyprus, Tunisia, India, and Gabon.
