He collapsed at Porto's training ground: Mourinho wept after the death of his legendary player

Costa, a Porto legend, died of a heart attack.

 

He collapsed at Porto's training ground: Mourinho wept after the death of his legendary player.

Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho was unable to control his emotions and shed tears when asked at a press conference on Tuesday about his feelings following the death of his former player Jorge Costa, who had passed away earlier. Costa, a Porto legend, died on Tuesday of a heart attack at the age of 53.

Media reported that the captain of the 2004 Champions League-winning Porto team under Jose Mourinho was taken from Porto's training ground to the hospital after fainting.

Mourinho, who now coaches Turkish side Fenerbahce, was asked about his former player during a press conference ahead of the Champions League qualifier against Feyenoord. The 62-year-old coach was visibly emotional when speaking about his former player, with whom he won the Champions League, and was seen wiping away tears and praising his legendary captain.

Mourinho said: "He's part of my history. I'm very sad. Let's forget football, let's focus on him and his family. If he could talk to me now, he'd say, 'Finish your press conference, win tomorrow's game, and forget about me.'" He added: "That's what I'm going to try to do. I do my job today and tomorrow, and then cry afterward, because today and tomorrow I have a job, and I know Jorge will ask me to do that. He was a true leader. It's not about the armband, but what it represents."

Costa shone at Porto during his 15 years at the club, winning eight Portuguese league titles, as well as the UEFA Cup and Intercontinental Cup, along with 13 other domestic titles, in addition to the Champions League. He was also a key player for the Portugal national team, with whom he won 50 caps. After a long career, he moved into coaching, working in Portugal, Tunisia, India, Romania, and France, before returning to Porto in 2024 as sporting director.