‘I’m very sad’ 

Jose Mourinho wipes away tears as he pays heartbreaking tribute to Porto’s Champions League-winning captain Jorge Costa

JOSE MOURINHO has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Jorge Costa following the news of his tragic death.

Costa, a Porto legend and former Charlton star, died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 53 in Portugal on Tuesday.

Jorge Costa, Farense head coach, looking pensive.
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Jorge Costa died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 53Credit: EPA

Jose Mourinho wiping away tears.
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Jose Mourinho wiped away tears as he spoke about his old Porto player

José Mourinho at a press conference.
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Mourinho said he would cry ‘after doing job’ because that’s what Costa would wantCredit: Shutterstock Editorial

Jose Mourinho and Jorge Costa at an FC Porto press conference.
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Mourinho called him a leader not a captainCredit: Action Images
He had fallen ill in the morning before he was rushed to Sao Joao hospital in a serious condition, but nothing could be done to save his life.

The former defender – nicknamed “Tanque” (Tank) and “Bicho” (animal) by his team-mates for his aggressive style of defending – was the captain of Mourinho’s Porto team when they won the Champions League in 2004.

Mourinho, who now manages Turkish side Fenerbahce, was asked about his former player during a press conference before his side take on Feyenoord in a Champions League qualifier.

The 62-year-old was visibly emotional when speaking about Costa, and was seen wiping tears away as he paid tribute to his late captain.

Choking back tears, Mourinho said: “It’s part of my history that goes.”

Asked about a 2022 interview where Mourinho said he was not a captain but a leader, he continued: “It’s not always about the armband but what you represent.

“And Jorge was one of these guys who cleaned the garbage and let the coach do his job.

“That’s perfection for a coach when his captain does this work. Of course, I’m very sad it’s part of my history that goes.

“But let’s forget football, let’s focus on him, on Jorge, on his kids, who I met when they were really kids.

“And I’m here now because if he could speak with me now he would tell me, come on, do your press conference. And he would say tomorrow play the game, win the game and forget about me.

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Jose Mourinho explains the difference between a captain and a leader, using Jorge Costa as an example
“So that’s what I’m going to try and do, do my job today, do my job tomorrow and then cry after.

“But today and tomorrow I have a job to do and I know Jorge would tell me to do my job.”

The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss recalled a story about his former star, explaining how when the team was losing at half-time, Costa had “done the dirty work” by laying into the team to save a fuming Mourinho from having to do the same.

He explained how Costa told him to wait outside, before opening the door after a couple of moments and saying to the manager “coach us”, with Porto winning the game 3-2 thanks to Costa scoring two goals.

Costa starred at Porto across a 15-year spell, winning eight league titles, as well as winning the Uefa Cup, Intercontinental Cup, five Taca de Portugal trophies and eight Super Cups.

He was also a key figure of the Portuguese National Team, earning 50 caps for the senior team and winning the Portuguese Golden Ball in 2000.

Following a decorated playing career which involved spells at Penafiel, Maritimo and the Addicks on loan and a one-year stint at Standard Liege, Costa moved into coaching in 2006.

He started out as an assistant at Braga before taking on the full job as manager in 2007.

But Costa would go on to have an extraordinary journeyman career as a boss.

Costa had a number of jobs ranging from his homeland of Portugal to Tunisia, India, Romania and France.

The Porto legend eventually returned to the club in 2024 to work as a director of football.

He suffered a similar health problem in 2022 when he was admitted to Santa Cruz hospital before undergoing surgery and eventually recovering.

But news of his death has left the world of football in mourning.

Former clubs Porto, Braga, Charlton all paid tribute to him, as well as old rival Sporting Lisbon.

Cristiano Ronaldo paid tribute on his Instagram page by sharing a picture of the defender with a black and white filter with the caption: “Ate sempre Jorge Costa”, meaning “until forever”.

Meanwhile, ex-Portugal international and 1987 Ballon d’Or runner up Paulo Futre wrote: “Hard to believe. What devastating news. A truly sad day for Portuguese football.

“My most sincere condolences to Jorge Costa’s family. Forever, friend. Rest in peace.”