Former Porto captain Jorge Costa has died of cardiac arrest at the age of 53 while at the club’s training centre.
A commanding central defender, Costa captained Porto to Champions League glory under José Mourinho in 2004 and earned 50 caps for Portugal during his international career.
He made 324 appearances for Porto, having come through the club’s youth system, and won 24 trophies—including the Champions League, UEFA Cup, and eight Primeira Liga titles—before departing in 2005.
Costa had a brief stint in the Premier League with Charlton Athletic during the 2001–02 season, making 26 appearances while on loan.
He retired from playing in 2006 and transitioned into management, eventually coaching 16 different clubs across Portugal, Romania, Cyprus, Tunisia, India, and Gabon. Last season, he returned to Porto as the club’s director of professional football.
His death marks the third sudden loss of a former Porto player this summer, following the tragic passing of former loanee Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in July. André had spent six years at the club.
José Mourinho, now managing Fenerbahçe, became visibly emotional while paying tribute to his former captain at a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier against Feyenoord.
Costa was widely respected for his leadership and resilience on the pitch. In 2000, he was awarded the Portuguese Golden Ball, recognizing him as the best player in the league.
Former teammate Deco, who also featured in Porto’s 2004 Champions League-winning team, described Costa as a “legendary captain” and affectionately remembered him by his nickname, Bicho—Portuguese for “bug”.