Remembering the legendary football captain Costa

Former Porto Champions League captain Jorge Costa has passed away due to cardiac arrest at the age of 53, causing widespread mourning in the football community
On August 5th Beijing time, former Porto Champions League captain and general manager of Porto club, Jorge Costa, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at the club's training center and was sent to the hospital for treatment, but ultimately passed away at the age of 53
At the time of the incident, Costa was interviewed by SportTV at the Porto Olivar training base. At around 12:30 pm, due to the hot weather, he requested the filming crew to move indoors. Shortly afterwards, he suddenly fell into a coma. The Porto medical team used defibrillators for emergency treatment, and firefighters and the Portuguese national emergency medical team arrived to provide support. When he was taken to the hospital, he was in critical condition and unfortunately passed away in the afternoon of the same day
In 2022, Costa, who was then the sports director of Porto Club, suffered a sudden acute myocardial infarction. After emergency coronary angiography and stent implantation surgery, he turned the situation around and passed away. This sudden cardiac arrest may be related to heart problems
Football career and contributions
Player achievements: During his playing career, Jorge Costa played as a center back on the field and was a member of Portugal's golden generation. At Porto Club, he served as captain and made 383 appearances for Porto throughout his career. In his 15 year career, he won eight league championships, five Portuguese Cups, and six Portuguese Super Cups, among other honors. In the 2002-2003 season, he won the treble of the Portuguese Primeira Liga, Europa League, and Portuguese Cup. In 2003, he won the UEFA Cup with the team. In 2004, as captain, he led Porto, coached by Mourinho, to win the UEFA Champions League championship
National team experience: once represented the Portugal national youth team to win the U20 World Cup championship, and represented the national team in 118 international matches, including 50 adult national team matches, helping the national team win respect and glory on the international stage
Loan and Retirement: He briefly loaned to Charlton Athletic in the English Premier League before ending his playing career at Standard Liege in 2006.
After retiring, he spent 17 years in management positions and also coached teams such as the Gabon national team.

Club Mourning: Porto Club released an obituary on social media, stating that Costa embodied the values that define the spirit of Porto both on and off the field: dedication, leadership, passion, and the spirit of winning, influencing generation after generation of fans and becoming a great symbol of Porto. The club also extends condolences to his family, friends, and all those who have spent unforgettable time with him, and implores everyone to exercise restraint and respect.
Football Association Mourning: The Portuguese Football Association is deeply saddened by the passing of Jorge Costa, calling him one of the most outstanding players in the "key generation" of Portuguese football. They offer their deepest condolences to his family and friends, especially Porto Football Club.
Player Mourning: Cristiano Ronaldo posts photos on social media to mourn this Portuguese football veteran. Mourinho was emotional during a press conference for a Champions League qualifying match, stating that he would follow Costa's advice to do his job first and then mourn.
Fan Mourning: On social media, fans have initiated topics expressing their nostalgia for Costa, reflecting their respect for Costa and the emotional resonance that football brings.
Costa has a firm belief and frank personality, and his leadership and fighting spirit are the core values of Porto. His statement that 'football is never a sport for 11 people, it is the adrenaline of the entire city' is not only a summary of his personal spirit, but also a profound interpretation of Porto's football culture, becoming a great symbol of Porto's ideology and influencing generations of fans.
The passing of Jorge Costa is undoubtedly a great loss for Porto club and the entire Portuguese football community. As one of the most outstanding players in the "key generation" of Portuguese football, he made an indelible contribution to Portuguese football, and his legend will forever be engraved in the memories of all Porto people and Portuguese football players