“A year on, the grief hasn’t eased”: FC Porto remember Jorge Costa | OneFootball

Exactly one year ago, the FC Porto family said farewell to one of its greatest figures. Jorge Costa, former captain and director of professional football at FC Porto, died on 5 August 2025 after suffering a cardiorespiratory arrest. He passed away at Olival, the home of blue-and-white football, while working in the service of the Club he represented for almost his entire life.

His death caused deep sorrow among FC Porto supporters and throughout the football world. Jorge Costa was far more than an outstanding footballer: he became a symbol of FC Porto, embodying the fighting spirit, resilience, passion and absolute loyalty to the colours he defended. His journey became inseparably linked to the history and DNA of the Club.

Born on 14 October 1971 and raised in the Pasteleira neighbourhood of Porto, he began playing football at FC Foz. In 1987, he joined FC Porto, the club of his family and his life, to complete his youth development. He became a national champion at under-17 and under-19 level and, before establishing himself as a senior player, spent time on loan at FC Penafiel and CS Marítimo, where he gained experience and competitive minutes.

It was in the 1992/93 season that he returned to the Antas, after being crowned under-20 world champion with the national team, in a triumph that foreshadowed a golden generation. His debut for Porto’s first team came on 25 August 1992, against Estoril Praia, in a match coached by Brazilian Carlos Alberto Silva in which he scored the decisive goal. Despite strong competition from players such as Aloísio, Fernando Couto and Zé Carlos, Jorge Costa never gave up. The warrior spirit that would come to define his career began to show from his very first steps.

He secured his place in the starting eleven under head coach António Oliveira. From that moment on, he truly made his mark, thanks to his commitment, natural leadership and ability to overcome every difficulty. It was also a consequence of the intense way in which he lived FC Porto.

Affectionately known as “Bicho”, he became a voice of authority on the pitch and in the dressing room. Few embodied Porto’s identity as he did. He played a part in every title of the historic Penta and had a decisive role in restoring the Club’s prominence in Europe, leading to some of the most memorable nights in blue-and-white history.

Jorge Costa himself once explained that Fernando Couto was behind the nickname. The reason? “Fernando would be the one to explain it, but I think that was it, I was an animal, I was a beast, I was someone who gave everything he had on the pitch.”

In May 2003, as captain, he led the team that won the UEFA Cup after an epic run. The following year, in Gelsenkirchen, he lifted the Champions League trophy and became one of the defining images of Porto’s soul. Still in 2004, he celebrated victory in the Intercontinental Cup, bringing an extraordinary period to a close.

In service of FC Porto, Jorge Costa played 383 matches, scored 25 goals and won 21 trophies: eight league titles, five Portuguese Cups, five Super Cups, one UEFA Cup, one Champions League and one Intercontinental Cup. The numbers reflect the scale of his career, but they cannot measure everything he represented. His importance lives on above all in the memory of the fans, in the values he passed on and in his unwavering commitment to the Club.

He was also an important presence in the Portuguese national team. He earned 50 caps for the senior side and was part of the team that won the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship in Lisbon. Throughout his international career, he took part in Portugal’s major competitions, standing out for his character, consistency and team spirit.

After ending his playing career at Standard Liège in 2006, he began a new chapter as a coach. He led clubs and national teams in distinct and ambitious projects in Portugal, Romania, Tunisia, Cyprus, France, Gabon and India. In every experience, he carried with him the principles he had “absorbed” at FC Porto: hard work, high standards, loyalty and limitless dedication.

In 2024, he returned to the Club to take charge of professional football. His experience and knowledge were once again placed at the service of Porto’s present and future. With the same firmness and clarity as always, he once again became a reference in the dressing room. He was, once more, in the place where he felt he belonged.

On the morning of 5 August 2025, after working at Olival, he felt unwell and suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest. Despite the prompt action of FC Porto’s medical team and his urgent transfer to São João Hospital, it was not possible to save him. Confirmation of his death triggered an enormous wave of pain and emotion in Portugal and across international football.

Former teammates, officials, opponents, institutions, rival clubs and thousands of supporters wanted to pay tribute to one of the great figures of Portuguese football. Many remembered him as “a symbol” and “a legend”. At the Estádio do Dragão, the emotion was universal, and the silence felt that day spoke for everyone.

Jorge Costa left behind a story that goes beyond victories and titles. He was a man of character, a true Porto man and a natural leader, who defended the Club’s name with honour and earned respect and admiration everywhere he went. His memory will forever remain tied to FC Porto, through the dedication, courage and example he left behind.

FC Porto also grew thanks to men like Jorge Costa. With him on the pitch, the Dragons reached the summit of Europe and the world; off it, he remained one of the greatest references of Porto identity. In his absence, he attained the stature of a legend. A year ago, a giant, one of the greatest, was lost, but the captain’s name, voice and image remain etched forever in the history of the Club.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.