Jorge Costa, former captain of Porto and member of the 2003/04 Champions League-winning squad, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at Porto’s Olival Training Center on Tuesday local time. Despite emergency efforts, he passed away at the age of 53.
At the time of the incident, Costa was being interviewed by SportTV at Porto’s Olival Training Base. Around 12:30 PM, due to extreme heat, the club director requested the film crew to move the interview indoors. However, he soon fell into a coma. Porto’s medical team immediately administered first aid using a defibrillator, with firefighters and Portugal’s National Emergency Medical Service arriving shortly after to assist.
Costa was rushed to the intensive care unit of Porto’s Hospital de São João in critical condition, but sadly succumbed to his condition in the afternoon of the same day.
Looking back to 2022, Costa—who was serving as Porto’s sporting director at the time—suffered a sudden acute myocardial infarction. He was stabilized after emergency coronary angiography and stent implantation surgery.
A towering figure in Portuguese football history, Costa captained José Mourinho’s Porto to the Champions League title in the 2003/04 season. During his career, he also helped the club secure 8 Primeira Liga titles, 5 Taça de Portugal trophies, and 6 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira honors. In 1991, he was part of the Portugal U20 national team that won the FIFA U-20 World Cup, and he earned 50 caps for the senior national team.
Costa began his professional career at Porto, with loan spells at Penafiel, Marítimo, and Charlton Athletic during his career. He retired from playing in 2006 while at Standard Liège. At the time of his passing, he was serving as Porto’s football director.
