A tearful Jose Mourinho declared ‘it’s a part of my history that goes’ as he paid tribute to his former Porto captain Jorge Costa, who has died at the age of 53.
Mourinho offered a tribute during a press conference before Fenerbahce’s Champions League qualifier on Wednesday, which fell just hours after the news of Costa’s passing.
Costa had been the captain and linchpin of Mourinho’s Porto side, which famously lifted the Champions League in 2004.
The defender, who won 50 caps for Portugal, won 24 trophies during his time at Porto including the Uefa Cup and eight Primeira Liga titles.
Costa had returned to Porto last year as a director of football after a managerial career that spanned 16 different teams.
He passed away at Porto’s training centre on Tuesday following a cardiac arrest.
Jose Mourinho wiped away tears as he paid tribute to his former Porto captain Jorge Costa, who has died at the age of 53
Costa, left, captained Mourinho’s Porto side to their famous 2004 Champions League win
Costa, who returned to the club as a director of football last year, suffered a cardiac arrest
‘It’s part of my history that goes,’ a tearful Mourinho said, before being asked about his previous reflection that Costa was not a captain but a leader in his dressing room.
‘You have captains and you have leaders. It’s not always about the armband but what you represent,’ Mourinho added. ‘And Jorge was one of these guys who cleaned the garbage and let the coach do his job as a coach.
‘That’s perfection for a coach when his captain does this work. Of course, I’m very sad it’s part of my history that goes.
‘But let’s forget football, let’s focus on him, on Jorge, on his kids, who I met when they were really kids, but now are grown men.
‘And I’m here now because if he could speak with me now he would tell me, come on, do your press conference. And he would say tomorrow play the game Mister, win the game and forget about me. That would be Jorge.
‘So that’s what I’m going to try and do, do my job today, do my job tomorrow and then cry after. But today and tomorrow I have a job to do and I know Jorge would tell me to do my job.’
Mourinho in 2022 had hailed Costa as a ‘leader’ of his team, recalling a story where the centre back had done the ‘dirty work’ in expressing his fury at half-time in a match they had trailed 2-0.
He stated that Costa had then asked him ‘coach us’, before the defender scored a rare two goals to help secure a 3-2 victory.
Mourinho spoke about Costa during his press conference before Fenerbahce’s Champions League qualifier
The centre defender, left, seen bringing the Champions League trophy through Porto airport
Costa had also captained Porto to the UEFA Cup a year earlier and won eight domestic titles
According to reports in Portgual, Costa had suffered a cardiac arrest while at Porto’s training centre.
Costa, who had previously had a heart attack in 2022, had reportedly complained of intense heat several times after giving a television interview to SportTV.
A Bola reported that Porto’s medical team provided first aid and used a defibrillator, before Costa was taken to the Sao Joao Hospital.
Costa was admitted into intensive care, but died in the early afternoon.
The former central defender played for Porto between 1990 and 2005, making 324 appearances in all competitions for the club.
He is best remembered for serving as Mourinho’s captain as Porto famously won the Champions League in 2004.
Porto had beaten Manchester United, Lyon and Deportivo La Coruna in the knock-out stage of the competition, before easing to a 3-0 win over Monaco in the final.
Costa had also lifted the UEFA Cup the previous season and won the Portuguese title on eight occasions with the club.
He also won the Intercontinental Cup, five Taca de Portugal trophies and eight Super Cups during his time at Porto.
Costa also had a brief spell in the Premier League following a loan move to Charlton
Costa returned to the Porto last year to serve as a director of football.
‘Jorge Costa, the legendary FC Porto captain and current Director of Professional Football, passed away this Tuesday from cardiac arrest,’ a Porto statement read.
‘Fútbol Clube do Porto expresses its deepest sadness and consternation at the passing of an inescapable figure in the Club’s history.
‘Throughout his life, both on and off the field, Jorge Costa embodied the values that define FC Porto: dedication, leadership, passion, and an unwavering spirit of achievement. He touched generations of fans and became a major symbol of Porto.
‘In this time of immense grief, Futebol Clube do Porto extends its deepest condolences to Jorge Costa’s family, his friends, and all who shared unforgettable moments with him.
‘As this is a time of grief for his entire family and for the Porto Alegre family, we ask everyone to exercise the required discretion and respect during this time of farewell. More information will be released in due course.
‘Jorge Costa’s legacy will forever live on in the memories of all Porto fans.
‘You will never be forgotten, Captain.’
Several of Costa’s clubs have paid tribute to the former player and manager
Cristiano Ronaldo also shared a message on Instagram, writing ‘Goodbye, Jorge Costa’
The defender made 50 international appearances for Portugal, including representing his nation at the 2002 World Cup.
Costa had a brief spell in the Premier League, making 24 appearances in a loan spell with Charlton in the 2001-02 season.
He finished his playing career in Belgium with Standard Liege, before embarking on a managerial career with saw him take charge of 17 different teams.
This included coaching eight different Portuguese teams, including Braga, as well as spells in Cyprus, Romania, France, Tunisia, India and as head coach of Gabon’s national team.
A Braga tribute read: ‘SC Braga received with deep sorrow the news of the passing of Jorge Costa, a historic figure in national football who, throughout his extensive sporting career, also represented the colors of our club, both as head coach and assistant coach.
‘The terrible news of his passing shakes the entire national sports community, and SC Braga cannot help but join in the immense pain shared by his family, his friends, and the entire FC Porto structure.’
Charlton also paid tribute writing in a statement: ‘We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player Jorge Costa at the age of 53.
‘The thoughts of everyone at Charlton Athletic are with Jorge’s family and friends at this difficult time.’
Cristiano Ronaldo also shared a message on Instagram, writing ‘Goodbye, Jorge Costa’
A tribute from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin read: ‘It is with profound sadness that we have learned of the sudden passing of Portuguese legend Jorge Costa.
‘Jorge was more than a football player. He was a leader and a true warrior who inspired generations. He embodied grit, resilience and loyalty.’
