By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@APPhoto.
Jorge Costa, the captain of FC Porto’s Champions League-winning side of 2004, has died aged 53, the Portuguese club confirmed.
The former central defender, who was working as Porto’s football director, passed away from a cardiac arrest on Tuesday.
Costa spent a season on loan at Charlton in the Premier League in 2001-02 and retired from playing in 2006.
The centre-back moved into management and held positions at 16 clubs before taking up the role of Porto’s director of professional football last season.
“Throughout his life, both on and off the pitch, Jorge Costa embodied the values that define FC Porto: dedication, leadership, passion and an unshakeable spirit of conquest,” the club said. “He left his mark on generations of fans.”
It is the third unexpected death of an former Porto player this summer following the tragic passing of former loanee Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in July, who spent six years at the club.
Costa began his managerial career with Braga and the club said his “passing has shaken the entire national sporting community”.
“Braga cannot help but share in the enormous grief felt by his family, his friends and the entire FC Porto organisation,” the club added on X.
After stints in the dugout in Portugal with Braga, Olhanense and Academica, Costa managed teams in Romania, Cyprus, Tunisia, India and Gabon.