Jorge Costa

Jorge Paulo Costa Almeida (born 14 October 1971), known as Costa, is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a central defender, and a current manager.

For other people named Jorge Costa, see Jorge Costa (disambiguation).

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Costa and the second or paternal family name is Almeida.

Jorge Costa

Personal information
Full name	Jorge Paulo Costa Almeida
Date of birth	(1971-10-14) 14 October 1971
Place of birth	Porto, Portugal
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position(s)	Centre back
Youth career
1986–1987	FC Foz
1987–1990	Porto
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1990–2005	Porto	251	(16)
1990–1991	→ Penafiel (loan)	23	(3)
1991–1992	→ Marítimo (loan)	31	(1)
2001–2002	→ Charlton Athletic (loan)	24	(0)
2005–2006	Standard Liège	13	(0)
Total		342	(20)
National team
1991	Portugal U20	10	(1)
1992–1994	Portugal U21	22	(2)
1992–2002	Portugal	50	(2)
Teams managed
2006–2007	Braga (assistant)
2007	Braga
2008–2010	Olhanense
2010	Académica
2011–2012	CFR Cluj
2012–2013	AEL Limassol
2013–2014	Anorthosis
2014	Paços Ferreira
2014–2016	Gabon
2017	Sfaxien
2017	Arouca
2017–2018	Tours
2018–2020	Mumbai City
Honours Men's football Representing  Portugal UEFA European Championship 2000 Belgium-Netherlands FIFA U-20 World Cup Winner 1991 Portugal UEFA European Under-21 Championship Runner-up 1994 France UEFA European Under-17 Championship Runner-up 1988 Spain
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Nicknamed Bicho (animal) and Tanque (tank) by his colleagues and fans for his aggressive and physical playing style,[1] he spent most of his professional career with Porto, being team captain for several seasons and winning a total of 24 major titles, notably eight Primeira Liga championships and the 2004 Champions League.

Having earned 50 caps for Portugal, Costa represented the nation at one World Cup and one European Championship. After retiring, he worked as a manager for several clubs.

Playing career

Club

Born in Porto, Costa made his professional debut with F.C. Penafiel on loan from hometown club FC Porto. The following season he was also loaned, to fellow Primeira Liga side C.S. Marítimo, playing 31 games including a controversial one in the Estádio das Antas where he scored an own goal; despite it being clearly unintentional the accusations of scoring for his team continued, forcing Porto's president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa to forbid further loaned players to play against them, a decision that stood for several decades.[2]

In the 1992–93 campaign, Costa finally joined FC Porto, slowly making his way. Five seasons later he switched to jersey No. 2, previously worn by João Domingos Pinto, also being named team captain as the veteran retired. His career three only met four black spots: two serious knee injuries (during 1995–96, which ruled him out of UEFA Euro 1996 and during 1997's pre-season in Sweden) and a feud with coach Octávio Machado early in 2001–02, which forced him into "exile" at Charlton Athletic.[3] However, the image of Costa as the captain went untouched, and Porto fans turned against Machado with massive criticism of his team management and coaching, eventually forcing him outside the club; during his time in South London, he played in defence alongside Luke Young, Mark Fish and Jonathan Fortune, in a back-line remembered for its pun name of "Young Fish Costa Fortune".[4][5][6][7]

Additionally, in 1996–97's UEFA Champions League, Costa was involved in an incident with A.C. Milan's George Weah on 20 November 1996, with the Liberian breaking his nose, alleging that he had been racially abused.[8] Costa strenuously denied the accusations of racism and was not charged by UEFA as no witnesses could verify Weah's allegations, not even his Milan teammates. Weah, on the other hand, was suspended for six matches, and later attempted to apologise to Costa but this was rebuffed by the Portuguese, who considered the charges of racist insults levelled against him to be defamatory and took the Liberian to court;[9] the incident resulted in the latter being sidelined for three weeks, also having to undergo facial surgery.

With José Mourinho in charge, Costa returned to Porto next season, and was unanimously chosen as captain of a side that went on to win a championship-cup–UEFA Cup treble, making him the third Porto captain in a row to lift cups at international level (following Pinto and Fernando Gomes). The player's winning streak continued as the next season he lifted the Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup.[10][11][12][13]

In January 2006, after having been deemed surplus to requirements by new coach Co Adriaanse, Costa signed for Standard Liège from Belgium, reuniting with former Porto teammate Sérgio Conceição,[14] and helped his new side to a runner-up finish in the league. He decided to retire from the game in June after alleging personal reasons, despite having a running contract until 2007.[15]

International

Costa made his full international debut for Carlos Queiroz' Portugal on 11 November 1992 in a 2–1 friendly win over Bulgaria in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, France.[16] He played alongside Fernando Couto as the team reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands.[17]

Costa scored the first of two goals on 15 November 2000, in a 2–1 exhibition defeat of Israel at the Estádio 1º de Maio in Braga.[18] He retired from international football after a group stage elimination at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, having played in 50 games;[19] in that competition he scored an own goal in a 2–3 loss to the United States.[20]

Previously, in 1991, Costa was an undisputed starter as the Portuguese team won the FIFA U-20 World Cup.[21][22]

Coaching career

In the 2006–07 season, Costa began his coaching career with S.C. Braga, first as assistant to Rogério Gonçalves, whom he replaced in February 2007. In his first season he led the Minho side to the fourth place and the semi-finals of the domestic cup, also reaching the round-of-16 in the UEFA Cup, being ousted by Tottenham Hotspur 4–6 on aggregate.[23]

After again guiding Braga to the UEFA Cup group stage, Costa was fired midway through his second year.[24] He then moved to second level's S.C. Olhanense in the following campaign, eventually finishing the season as champions and returning the Algarve team to the first division after 34 years.[25] After helping Olhanense to the 13th position in the following campaign – thus safe from relegation – he left the club, joining another top division club, Académica de Coimbra.[26]

On 21 December 2010, Costa announced his departure from Académica and his retirement from coaching, citing personal reasons.[27] The team was placed in ninth position after the 14th round, eventually narrowly escaping relegation. In May 2011, however, he announced his comeback, signing a contract with Romania's CFR Cluj.[28]

On 24 October 2012, AEL Limassol FC appointed Costa as their new manager, on the eve of a Europa League group stage tie against Fenerbahçe SK.[29] In the following summer he moved teams but stayed in Cyprus, penning a 1+1 deal with Anorthosis Famagusta FC.[30]

From 2014 until November 2016, Costa coached the Gabon national team, being ousted from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations group stage after one win and two losses.[31] He returned to club duties on 15 May 2017, being appointed at CS Sfaxien;[32] he moved back to his homeland in the following summer, signing at Segunda Liga side F.C. Arouca[33] and leaving by mutual consent less than three months later due to a poor string of results.[34]

On 22 November 2017, Costa was hired at Tours FC, last-placed in France's Ligue 2.[35] At the end of the season, with the club relegated in the same position, he resigned with a year remaining on his contract.[36]

In August 2018, Costa signed for Mumbai City FC for the upcoming campaign of the Indian Super League.[37] After a third-place finish, the team lost 5–2 on aggregate to FC Goa in the play-off semi-finals, conceding all of those goals in the first leg at home.[38] On 5 March 2020, after finishing one place off qualification for the post-season, he was allowed to leave.[39]

Career statistics

Club

Club	Season	League		Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Penafiel (loan)	1990–91	23	3	0	0	–		–		23	3
Marítimo (loan)	1991–92	31	1	0	0	–		–		31	1
	Total	54	4	0	0	–		–		54	4
Porto	1992–93	8	1	1	0	6	1	–		15	2
	1993–94	13	0	3	1	6	0	–		22	1
	1994–95	13	1	3	1	4	1	–		20	3
	1995–96	21	1	3	1	3	0	1	0	28	2
	1996–97	26	4	4	0	7	0	2	1	39	5
	1997–98	13	0	4	0	0	0	–		17	0
	1998–99	33	2	1	0	5	0	2	0	41	2
	1999–00	31	1	4	0	12	1	2	0	49	2
	2000–01	20	1	3	0	10	0	2	0	35	1
	2001–02	6	1	0	0	6	0	1	0	13	1
	Total	184	12	26	3	59	3	10	1	279	19
Charlton Athletic (loan)	2001–02	24	0	2	0	–		–		26	0
	Total	24	0	2	0	–		–		26	0
Porto	2002–03	26	2	3	1	12	0	–		41	3
	2003–04	19	1	2	0	10	0	1	0	32	1
	2004–05	22	1	0	0	7	1	2	0	31	2
	Total	67	4	5	1	29	1	3	0	104	6
Standard Liège	2005–06	13	0	0	0	–		–		13	0
	Total	13	0	0	0	–		–		13	0
Career Total		342	20	33	4	88	4	13	1	476	29

International

[40]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Portugal	1992	1	0
	1993	4	0
	1995	9	0
	1996	2	0
	1997	3	0
	1998	3	0
	1999	2	0
	2000	13	1
	2001	6	0
	2002	7	1
Total		50	2

Jorge Costa: International goals[40]

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	15 November 2000	Estádio Primeiro de Maio, Braga, Portugal	Israel	2–0	2–1	Friendly
2	13 February 2002	Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain	Spain	0–1	1–1	Friendly

Honours

Player

Club

Porto[41]

• Primeira Liga: 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2002–03, 2003–04
• Taça de Portugal: 1993–94, 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004
• UEFA Champions League: 2003–04
• UEFA Cup: 2002–03
• Intercontinental Cup: 2004

International

Portugal

• FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1991[22]

Individual

• Portuguese Golden Ball: 2000

Manager

Club

Olhanense

• Segunda Liga: 2008–09

Cluj

• Liga I: 2011–12

Individual

• CNID Breakthrough Coach: 2008–09

References

1. Jorge Costa; at BBC Sport
2. "'Bicho' recorda auto-golo polémico: 'Fiquei muito magoado com tudo'" ['Animal' recalls controversial own goal: 'I resented everything'] (in Portuguese). DNotícias. 3 May 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
3. Charlton complete Costa move; BBC Sport, 18 April 2002
4. Davies, Hunter (2 April 2007). "You've gotta laugh". New Statesman. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
5. Hurrey, Adam (29 February 2016). "10 former Premier League heroes you might have forgotten about". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
6. Smith, John; Ingle, Sean (13 November 2002). "The best start ever by a relegated team". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
7. "Charlton v FC Porto". Evening Standard. 8 August 2002. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
8. Match report; at RSSSF
9. "Court postpones Weah trial". BBC Sport. 28 February 2001. Archived from the original on 2 April 2003. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
10. "Uefa Cup final player ratings". BBC Sport. 21 May 2003. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
11. "Porto fulfil treble dream". UEFA. 15 June 2003. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
12. "Porto perform to perfection". UEFA. 27 May 2004. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
13. "Porto triumph in World Club Cup". BBC Sport. 13 December 2004. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
14. Jorge Costa to help Standard fly; UEFA, 12 December 2005
15. "Jorge Costa rescindiu com o Standard Liège" [Jorge Costa cut ties with Standard Liège] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 13 June 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
16. "Título mundial em Lisboa inesquecível" [Unforgettable world title in Lisbon]. Record (in Portuguese). 4 August 2002. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
17. "The retro Euro teams we loved: Portugal, 2000". The 42. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
18. "Portugal-Israel, 2–1: A noite de todas as prendas numa vitória «quanto baste»" [Portugal-Israel, 2–1: Night of all gifts in "just barely" win]. Record (in Portuguese). 16 November 2000. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
19. Alexander, Douglas (17 November 2002). "Portugal's broken dreams". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
20. USA stun Portugal; BBC Sport, 5 June 2002
21. Jorge Costa – FIFA competition record
22. Ribeiro, Ireneu (20 August 2011). "Geração de ouro faz 20 anos" [Golden generation celebrates 20th birthday]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 August 2016.
23. Sinnott, John (14 March 2007). "Tottenham 3–2 Braga (agg 6–4)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
24. Liga lethargy costs Jorge Costa; UEFA, 30 October 2007
25. "Olhanense campeão" [Olhanense champions] (in Portuguese). Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
26. "Académica de Jorge Costa lutará pela Europa" [Jorge Costa's Académica will fight for Europe]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 16 June 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
27. "Futebol: Jorge Costa acaba carreira desportiva de forma surpreendente e misteriosa" [Football: Jorge Costa ends career in surprising and mysterious fashion] (in Portuguese). Multi Desportos. 23 December 2010. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
28. "Jorge Costa confirmado no Cluj" [Jorge Costa confirmed at Cluj] (in Portuguese). Relvado. 19 May 2011. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
29. Ο Ζόρζε Κόστα νέος προπονητής [Jorge Costa the new coach] (in Greek). AEL Limassol. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
30. ΤΑ ΗΝΙΑ ΣΤΟΝ ΖΟΡΖΕ ΚΟΣΤΑ [Jorge Costa takes the reins] (in Greek). Anorthosis FC. 17 August 2013. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
31. "Gabon preps in disarray as coach leaves". BBC Sport. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
32. Tomegah, Rodolph (15 May 2017). "CS Sfaxien: Jorge Costa nommé nouvel entraîneur!" [CS Sfaxien: Jorge Costa named new manager!] (in French). Africa Top Sports. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
33. Lima, Fábio (29 June 2017). "Jorge Costa é o novo treinador do Arouca" [Jorge Costa is the new manager of Arouca]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 October 2019.
34. "OFICIAL: Jorge Costa deixa Arouca" [OFFICIAL: Jorge Costa leaves Arouca] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
35. "Jorge Costa nouvel entraîneur du Tours FC" [Jorge Costa new manager of Tours FC]. Le Figaro (in French). 22 November 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
36. "Jorge Costa a résilié son contrat" [Jorge Costa rescinded his contract]. La Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest (in French). 26 May 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
37. "Jorge Costa appointed Mumbai City FC head coach". The Hindu. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
38. Murar, Nandakumar (13 March 2019). "A 1–0 win not enough for Mumbai City as FC Goa progresses". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
39. "Mumbai City FC part ways with head coach Jorge Costa". The New Indian Express. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
40. "Jorge Costa". European Football. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
41. Jorge Costa coach profile at Soccerway

External links

• Jorge Costa at ForaDeJogo
• Jorge Costa manager stats at ForaDeJogo
• Jorge Costa at Soccerbase
• National team data (in Portuguese)
• Jorge Costa at National-Football-Teams.com