Former Porto captain Jorge Costa has died after suffering a cardiac arrest at the club’s training centre at the age of 53, the Portuguese side has confirmed.
The defender led Porto to Champions League glory under manager Jose Mourinho in 2004 and won 50 caps for Portugal.
Costa spent a season on loan at Charlton in the Premier League in 2001-02 and retired from playing in 2006.
The centre-back moved into management and held positions at 16 clubs before taking up the role of Porto’s director of professional football last season.
“Throughout his life, both on and off the pitch, Jorge Costa embodied the values that define FC Porto: dedication, leadership, passion and an unshakeable spirit of conquest,” the club said. “He left his mark on generations of fans.”
Costa graduated from Porto’s academy and went on to make 324 appearances for the club.
He won 24 trophies before leaving in 2005, including the Champions League, UEFA Cup and eight Primeira Liga titles.
In 2000, Costa won the Portuguese Golden Ball – an award handed out to the league’s best player.
