Jose Mourinho fights again tears after Champions League-winning captain dies aged 53
Jorge Costa, who captained Jose Mourinho's Porto to Champions League glory in 2004, has died on the age of 53 with Fenerbahce boss amongst these to pay tribute
A tearful Jose Mourinho paid tribute to Jorge Costa after the previous Porto centre-back died aged 53. Costa, who additionally performed within the Premier League, wore the captain's armband when Mourinho's Porto received the Champions League in 2004.
Costa, who retired from enjoying in 2006, returned to Porto as director of soccer in 2024. He’s understood to have suffered a cardiac arrest whereas at one of many membership's coaching classes on Tuesday, and was pronounced useless at Sao Joao hospital within the Portuguese metropolis.
The defender spent virtually his whole profession with Porto, enjoying greater than 350 video games for the membership. He additionally spent a 12 months within the Premier League with Charlton Athletic earlier than returning to the Dragao.
It was on the finish of his Porto spell that the staff sealed European glory beneath Mourinho. Costa wore the armband for his or her UEFA Cup triumph towards Celtic in 2003, and once more as they beat Monaco within the Champions League last 12 months later.
"It's a part of my historical past that goes," Mourinho, 62, stated at a press convention forward of a Champions League qualifier involving his staff Fenerbahce. The Turkish facet will face Feyenoord within the third qualifying spherical, with the primary leg held in Rotterdam.
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'You’ve gotten captains and you’ve got leaders. It's not at all times concerning the armband however what you symbolize," Mourinho continued. "And Jorge was considered one of these guys who cleaned the rubbish and let the coach do his job as a coach.
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'That's perfection for a coach when his captain does this work. After all, I'm very unhappy it's a part of my historical past that goes. However let's overlook soccer, let's concentrate on him, on Jorge, on his youngsters, who I met after they have been actually youngsters, however now are grown males.
"And I'm right here now as a result of if he might converse with me now he would inform me, come on, do your press convention. And he would say tomorrow play the sport Mister, win the sport and overlook about me. That may be Jorge.
'"In order that's what I'm going to attempt to do, do my job in the present day, do my job tomorrow after which cry after. However in the present day and tomorrow I’ve a job to do and I do know Jorge would inform me to do my job."
Porto shared a tribute of their very own following the information. "Futebol Clube do Porto expresses its deepest disappointment and consternation on the passing of an inescapable determine within the Membership's historical past," the membership wrote, calling for respect for his mates and family members.
"All through his life, Jorge Costa embodied, on and off the sector, the values that outline FC Porto: dedication, management, ardour, and an unwavering spirit of conquest. He influenced generations of followers and have become a significant image of Porto."
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