Jorge Costa was the link between the squad and Porto’s board, he was vital | OneFootball

Titles, armband, leadership, and mystique. The loss of Jorge Costa created a great void in FC Porto’s locker room. This is the conviction of former teammates Edmilson and Rubens Júnior, who emphasize the enormous influence the former captain and director had over the players. In an exclusive interview with Portal dos Dragões, the former FC Porto footballers remember Jorge Costa with longing and highlight the decisive role he played at the Dragão.

“Besides being our captain, after João Pinto, he was a very remarkable person. On the field, in games and training, he was very strong and tough. It’s no wonder they called him the ‘Beast’ [laughs]. He didn’t go easy on anyone. Off the field, he was a fantastic person. He was a friend, a joker… It’s a shame. When I saw the news, I was very sad. He will be greatly missed at FC Porto,” says Edmilson, the Brazilian forward who played 54 matches alongside Jorge Costa during the two years he wore the blue and white jersey.

For his part, Rubens Júnior always saw Jorge Costa as a “leader” capable of ensuring harmony between the squad and FC Porto’s management with distinction.

“I remember Jorge as the voice of the team. Whether on the field, in the locker room, or with management. He was the link between the team and the management, negotiating as needed. He was very loyal and faithful to that. The role of a leader is very complicated, because a leader has to see both the club’s side and the squad’s side. He can’t lean too much to one side. He has to show that everyone has their reasons. Knowing how to do that isn’t for just anyone. You need to have the trust of both sides. He had that ease. We saw it when he played and, now, as a director,” highlights the former Brazilian defender, who shared the pitch with Jorge Costa on 39 occasions.

Edmilson’s memories

Asked about his most memorable moments alongside Jorge Costa, Edmilson highlighted the trophies won with the direct collaboration of the ‘Beast’.

“I remember several things. I remember the Supertaça Cândido Oliveira, when we beat Benfica 5-0. Artur scored, then I scored, and he got the third, if I’m not mistaken. Then, his goal at Luz against Benfica. There are so many stories. I even shared a photo of us with the five balls. Those were two fantastic years and we won practically everything,” recalls the former Brazilian winger.

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Lucho could follow in Jorge Costa’s footsteps

Jorge Costa had returned to FC Porto at the invitation of André Villas-Boas about a year ago, after Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa stepped down from the presidency. The former number 2 left his coaching career to take on the role of football director at FC Porto. In essence, Jorge Costa was seen as a symbol of Porto mystique, something very difficult to match these days.

“I think his image… When people looked at him in the locker room, they saw the history. But sometimes, history alone isn’t enough to earn the players’ respect. But, beyond his history as a champion and captain, he had leadership and knowledge. He was able to pass that on to the players and identify their problems. In a locker room, it’s very important to be precise,” emphasizes Rubens Junior, who points to a member of Francesco Farioli’s technical staff as a possible natural successor to that role.

“Jorge’s profile was very important, just as Lucho [González] has. These are profiles that really help new players and those who have only been at the club for a year or two. With them, those players won’t get complacent in training or matches. These are people who cannot be missing from the locker room,” concludes the former defender, who also wore the Vitória SC jersey in Portugal.

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