Jorge Costa, who famously captained FC Porto to their unexpected Champions League victory in 2004, has passed away at the age of 53 due to cardiac arrest, the club announced on Tuesday.
Costa, a central defender who earned 50 caps for Portugal’s national team, was serving as Porto’s director of football when he died.
In its statement, Porto described Costa as a symbol of the club’s core values—dedication, leadership, passion, and a relentless competitive spirit.
Portuguese news outlets reported that Costa suffered cardiac arrest at Porto’s training facility and was quickly taken to São João Hospital.
Among Costa’s most notable career highlights was leading Jose Mourinho’s Porto squad to the Champions League title in 2004, a victory that surprised many across Europe. He had also lifted the UEFA Cup with Porto a year earlier.
Throughout his career, Costa contributed to eight Portuguese league championships for Porto.
He also spent a brief loan period with English side Charlton Athletic during the 2001-02 season.
Steve Brown, chair of Charlton’s former players association, expressed his condolences: “Hearing about the loss of someone at 53 is heartbreaking. Jorge was a former teammate with a strong reputation and captained a Champions League-winning team. He was well-loved at Charlton, a towering presence on the field, and a great person off it.”
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