André Villas-Boas remembers Jorge Costa and can't hold back tears | OneFootball

On Tuesday, FC Porto released a video capturing the moment when André Villas-Boas spoke at the ceremony that renamed the Olival academy to Jorge Costa Training and Sports Development Center, visibly moved.

On a day when the former Portuguese international would have celebrated his 54th birthday, the president of FC Porto could not hold back tears as he honored the man who was his 'right-hand man' in the club's management structure, which he joined in April 2024, roughly two months after the tragic death of the former footballer and director, on August 5th, due to a cardiorespiratory arrest.

“Today, on this day filled with emotion and meaning, we gather to honor and immortalize one of the most remarkable people at FC Porto, Mr. Jorge Costa. The choice of this date, October 14th, his birthday, could not be more symbolic. It is a tribute to the life he gave to our club, to our identity, to our collective purpose, principles, and values. A small gesture that should have been made while he was alive and that expresses the enormous desire that we never forget. It is with deep respect, moved by memory, that we will see in history the name of this place which is now called Jorge Costa Training and Sports Development Center. From this moment on, everyone who enters this space will inevitably cross paths with the strength of a captain who represents what it means to be FC Porto. Jorge Costa made each day wearing this jersey a hymn to courage, sacrifice, and team spirit,” he began.

“First and foremost, Jorge was a dragon, one who didn’t know how to play half-heartedly, who didn’t turn away from a fight, even down the locker room corridors, defending FC Porto's values. Captain for over a decade, he led with his voice, but led by example. Almost 400 official matches for our main team, having lifted the most important titles in our club’s history. It was impossible to ask more of our Bicho. He was capped 50 times for Portugal and served the dragons and Portuguese football with rare professionalism. Until very recently, he returned to this home and was a director like few others. Among the first to arrive and the last to leave,” emphasized the club's top leader from the Invicta city.

“Concerned about everyone, he injected spirit into the more experienced and taught the younger ones to walk with their heads held high. No one was indifferent to Bicho in the corridors of Olival. Jorge Costa meant a lot to FC Porto, to us, and to me. He was, like few others, a true symbol of Porto. Bicho embodied the DNA of FC Porto. Many will wear this jersey, few honored it like Bicho. With this tribute, we want to keep his name alive for the new generation that will be trained here. To all of Jorge Costa’s family, especially to Estela, his wife, his children David, Guilherme, Salvador, and Bruno, his mother and sisters, I leave a word of gratitude. Thank you for sharing this great man and captain with us. He will never be forgotten at this club,” he added, already in tears.

“He was a great man and a great companion. I want to leave a hug here because Jorge died in August, but left us an impressive legacy. Of charisma, honor, and victories, a force of nature. An exceptional man. Something very curious about David that reminds me of his father is his unmistakable walk and curly hair. He was always by my side. Sometimes I have mixed feelings about having brought him back here, and losing him here, the way it happened in my arms,” concluded André Villas-Boas.

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