Jose Mourinho got emotional during a press conference while talking about Jorge Costa, who died on Tuesday after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Costa captained Mourinho’s Porto to Champions League success in 2004 and played 530 games in all competitions, winning 50 caps for Portugal along the way.
Speaking about Costa ahead of Fenerbahce’s Champions League qualifier against Feyenoord, Mourinho paid tribute to his former player.
“It’s part of my history that goes. You have captains and you have leaders. It’s not always about the armband but what you represent. And Jorge was one of these guys who cleaned the garbage and let the coach do his job as a coach. That’s perfection for a coach when his captain does this work,” said the Portuguese manager.
“I’m here now because if he could speak with me now, he would tell me — Come on, do your press conference. And he would say tomorrow, play the game, Mister, win the game and forget about me. That would be Jorge. So that’s what I’m going to try — and do my job today, do my job tomorrow and then cry after. But today and tomorrow I have a job to do, and I know Jorge would tell me to do my job,” Mourinho added.
After a successful playing career with Porto, Costa was serving as the director of professional football in his second stint with the club.
“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. He left his mark on generations of fans,” said the club in its statement after Costa’s death.
