Jorge Costa: Former FC Porto Captain and Portugal Star Dies at 53
- The tragedy of Jorge Costa’s death is heightened by the fact that he had already overcome significant health issues in the past
- The Portuguese football legend worked as a top official of FC Porto until his sudden passing as tributes continue to pour in
- Costa retired in 2006 and went on to have a respectable career in mainstream football management
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The world of football has been rocked by the untimely passing of Jorge Costa, the iconic former captain of FC Porto, who tragically passed away at the age of 53.
Costa's sudden death has left fans, players, and the entire football community in mourning, as he was widely regarded as one of the club’s most influential figures.
Source: Getty Images
According to Yahoo Sports, the cause of death was a cardiac arrest, which occurred after Costa had felt unwell earlier in the day.
Jorge Costa, who made 50 appearances for the Portugal national team, was the director of football at FC Porto until his demise.
He captained the club to several triumphs, including their 2004 UEFA Champions League victory under the guidance of manager José Mourinho.
His contributions to the club's success on the field were invaluable as he helped Porto win the UEFA Champions League in 2004 as skipper.
Costa, known as "The Captain," inspired through his performances and also served as a mentor to younger players, always embodying the spirit and values of FC Porto.
The news of his sudden death has deeply saddened the club. FC Porto expressed their grief in a statement, describing Costa as an "inescapable figure" in the club’s history.
The club added that his legacy would live on in the hearts of all Porto fans and that he would "never be forgotten."
Costa's death follows the heartbreaking loss of another Portugal hero, Diogo Jota, who is among six top football stars to pass away in 2025.
When did Jorge Costa die?
He passed away on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) morning when he started feeling unwell at the Olival training centre. He had been working as Porto's director of football.
His condition quickly worsened, prompting FC Porto’s medical staff to assist him immediately, using a defibrillator on the scene.
Despite the medical team’s swift response, Costa's condition continued to deteriorate, and he was urgently transported to São João Hospital in Porto.
At the hospital, doctors worked tirelessly to save his life, but Costa was pronounced dead after going into cardiopulmonary arrest.
The hospital confirmed that he had arrived in a critical state and was unable to recover despite all efforts.
Source: Getty Images
Jorge Costa’s death is made even more tragic given that he had previously faced serious health challenges. In 2022, Costa suffered a heart attack and underwent a catheterization procedure to treat a blocked artery.
At the time, he seemed to recover well, and his return to FC Porto in a managerial role showed signs of a continued commitment to the club and its future.
Costa’s resilience in the face of adversity, both on and off the field, was something that earned him immense respect.
Jorge Costa's managerial career
After retiring as a player in 2006, the esteemed footballer managed several clubs including Braga, Olhanense, Academica, CFR Cluj, AEL Limassol. According to Indian Super League, he also took charge of Mumbai FC from 2018 to 2020.
According to Wikipedia, Jorge Costa managed 454 matches throughout his coaching career with various football teams. He recorded 112 victories, 153 draws, and 650 losses.
Diogo Jota's passing
YEN.com.gh earlier reported on the devastating death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota as the football world mourned his passing after one month.
The Premier League star, alongside his brother Andre Silva, was driving a luxury car in Northern Spain when he was involved in a fatal accident that killed both of them.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
