Jorge Costa
Encyclopedia
Jorge Paulo Costa Almeida (born 14 October 1971), known as Costa, is a retired Portuguese
professional footballer who played as a central defender, and a current manager
.
Nicknamed Bicho (animal
) and Tanque (tank
) by his colleagues and fans for his aggressive and physical playing style, he played most of his professional career with F.C. Porto, being team captain for several seasons and winning a total of 24 major titles, notably eight national championships and the 2004
UEFA Champions League
.
Having gained 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.
, Costa made his professional debuts with F.C. Penafiel, on loan from hometown's F.C. Porto. The following season, he was also loaned, to fellow top flight outfit C.S. Marítimo, playing 31 games, including a controversial one in the Estádio das Antas
where he scored an own goal
. Despite 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 Porto, a decision that still stands.
In 1992–93, Costa finally joined FC Porto, slowly making his way. Six seasons later, he switched to jersey #2, previously worn by right defender João Domingos Pinto, also being named team captain, as Pinto retired. His career three only met four black spots: two serious knee injuries (during the 1995–96 season, 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
. 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.
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 Liberia
n striker breaking his nose, alleging that he had been racially abused. 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; the incident resulted in Costa 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 winning streak for Costa continued as the next season he lifted the Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup
.
In January 2006, after having been deemed surplus to requirements by new club coach Co Adriaanse
, Costa signed for Standard Liège
from Belgium
, reuniting with former Porto teammate Sérgio Conceição
, and helped his new side to a runner-up spot in the league. He decided to retire from the game (claiming "personal reasons") in June, despite having a running contract until 2007.
, Costa and Fernando Couto
were considered the best defensive duo in UEFA Euro 2000. Costa retired from international football after the 2002 FIFA World Cup
, having won fifty cap
s, with two goals. In the latter competition, he scored an own goal
as the national side lost 2–3 to the United States
, eventually exiting in the group stage.
Previously, in 1991, Costa was an undisputed starter as the Portuguese team
lifted the FIFA U-20 World Cup
.
, whom he replaced in February 2007. In his first season, he led the Minho side to the fourth place and the semifinals of the domestic cup, also reaching the round of 16 in the UEFA Cup, being ousted by Tottenham Hotspur
4–6 on aggregate.
After again guiding Braga to the UEFA Cup group stage, Costa was fired midway through his second year. He then moved to second level
's S.C. Olhanense, in the following campaign, eventually finishing the season
as champions, with the Algarve side returning to the first division after 34 years. After helping Olhanense to the 13th position in the following campaign – thus safe from relegation – he left the club, joining another top division team, Académica de Coimbra.
On 21 December 2010, Costa announced his departure from Académica and his retirement from coaching, citing personal reasons. 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
n side CFR Cluj
.
|1990–91||Penafiel||Portuguese League||23||3||||||||||||||||
|-
|1991–92||Marítimo||Portuguese League||31||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1992–93||rowspan="10"|Porto||rowspan="10"|Portuguese League||8||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1993–94||13||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1994–95||13||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1995–96||21||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1996–97||26||4||||||||||||||||
|-
|1997–98||13||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1998–99||33||2||||||||||||||||
|-
|1999-00||31||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|2000–01||20||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|2001–02||6||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|2001–02||Charlton
||Premier League||24||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|2002–03||rowspan="4"|Porto||rowspan="4"|Portuguese League||26||2||||||||||||||||
|-
|2003–04||19||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|2004–05||22||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|2005–06||0||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|2005–06||Standard Liège
||Belgian League||13||0||||||||||||||||
305||20||||||||||||||||
24||0||||||||||||||||
13||0||||||||||||||||
342||20||||||||||||||||
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
professional footballer who played as a central defender, and a current manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Nicknamed Bicho (animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
) and Tanque (tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
) by his colleagues and fans for his aggressive and physical playing style, he played most of his professional career with F.C. Porto, being team captain for several seasons and winning a total of 24 major titles, notably eight national championships and the 2004
2004 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2004 UEFA Champions League Final was a football match played at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on 26 May 2004, to decide the winner of the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League...
UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
.
Having gained 50 caps for Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
, Costa represented the nation at one World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
and one European Championship
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
. After retiring he worked as a manager for several clubs.
Club career
Born in PortoPorto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, Costa made his professional debuts with F.C. Penafiel, on loan from hometown's F.C. Porto. The following season, he was also loaned, to fellow top flight outfit C.S. Marítimo, playing 31 games, including a controversial one in the Estádio das Antas
Estadio das Antas
The Estádio das Antas was the third stadium of the Portuguese football side FC Porto. It was in use from 1952 to 2004, replacing the earlier Campo da Constituição and later replaced by Estádio do Dragão. As well the stadium, it had an indoor arena and three training grounds...
where he scored an own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
. Despite being clearly unintentional, the accusations of "scoring for his team" continued, forcing Porto's president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa
Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa
Jorge Nuno de Lima Pinto da Costa is a Portuguese football chairman, currently in charge of F.C. Porto.-Early years:Pinto da Costa was born in Porto, the son of José Alexandrino Teixeira da Costa and Maria Elisa Bessa Lima de Amorim Pinto, who fathered other four children, including future...
to forbid further loaned players to play against Porto, a decision that still stands.
In 1992–93, Costa finally joined FC Porto, slowly making his way. Six seasons later, he switched to jersey #2, previously worn by right defender João Domingos Pinto, also being named team captain, as Pinto retired. His career three only met four black spots: two serious knee injuries (during the 1995–96 season, which ruled him out of UEFA Euro 1996 and during 1997's pre-season in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
) and a feud with coach Octávio Machado
Octávio Machado
Octávio Joaquim Coelho Machado is a retired Portuguese football player and coach.-Club career:...
early in 2001–02, which forced him into "exile" at Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
. 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.
Additionally, in 1996–97's UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, Costa was involved in an incident with A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
's George Weah
George Weah
George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah is a Liberian humanitarian and politician, and an ex-footballer. He ran unsuccessfully for president in the 2005 election, losing to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the second round of voting...
on 20 November 1996, with the Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
n striker breaking his nose, alleging that he had been racially abused. Costa strenuously denied the accusations of racism and was not charged by UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
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; the incident resulted in Costa being sidelined for three weeks, also having to undergo facial surgery.
With José Mourinho
José Mourinho
José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho is a Portuguese football manager and the current manager of Real Madrid. He is commonly known as "The Special One".Mourinho is regarded by some players, coaches and critics as the best ever coach in football....
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
Taça de Portugal
The Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
-UEFA Cup treble, making him the third Porto captain in a row to lift cups at international level (following Pinto and Fernando Gomes). The winning streak for Costa continued as the next season he lifted the Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (football)
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
.
In January 2006, after having been deemed surplus to requirements by new club coach Co Adriaanse
Co Adriaanse
Jacobus "Co" Adriaanse is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who is currently the head coach of Eredivisie team FC Twente.-Playing career:...
, Costa signed for Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, reuniting with former Porto teammate Sérgio Conceição
Sérgio Conceição
Sérgio Paulo Marceneiro da Conceição is a retired Portuguese footballer who played mostly as a right winger.Known for his speed and strength, combined with his good dribbling and crossing skills, and fairly accurate shooting. During his extensive career, he played for ten different teams, in five...
, and helped his new side to a runner-up spot in the league. He decided to retire from the game (claiming "personal reasons") in June, despite having a running contract until 2007.
International career
At international levelPortugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
, Costa and Fernando Couto
Fernando Couto
Fernando Manuel Silva Couto, OIH is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a central defender.During a 21-year professional career, he played in a number of top teams in Portugal, Spain and Italy , appearing in nearly 600 official games and winning the national league title of each country,...
were considered the best defensive duo in UEFA Euro 2000. Costa retired from international football after the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, having won fifty cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
s, with two goals. In the latter competition, he scored an own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
as the national side lost 2–3 to the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, eventually exiting in the group stage.
Previously, in 1991, Costa was an undisputed starter as the Portuguese team
Portugal national under-20 football team
The Portugal national under-20 football team is the national under-20 football team of Portugal and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal....
lifted the FIFA U-20 World Cup
FIFA U-20 World Cup
The FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
.
Managerial career
In 2006–07, Costa began his coaching career, with Sporting Clube de Braga, first as assistant to Rogério GonçalvesRogério Gonçalves
Rogério de Sousa Gonçalves is a Portuguese football manager.-Coaching career:Gonçalves started his managerial career off with his local Viana do Castelo club Lanheses in 1990 to 1992, and has moved on to bigger and better clubs from the smaller leagues of Portuguese football to the Liga de Honra...
, whom he replaced in February 2007. In his first season, he led the Minho side to the fourth place and the semifinals of the domestic cup, also reaching the round of 16 in the UEFA Cup, being ousted by Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
4–6 on aggregate.
After again guiding Braga to the UEFA Cup group stage, Costa was fired midway through his second year. He then moved to second level
Liga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
's S.C. Olhanense, in the following campaign, eventually finishing the season
2008–09 Liga de Honra
The 2008–09 Liga de Honra season is the nineteenth since its establishment. Trofense are the defending champions.-Teams promoted to Liga de Honra:*Oliveirense*Sporting Covilhã-League table:-Summary:...
as champions, with the Algarve side returning to the first division after 34 years. After helping Olhanense to the 13th position in the following campaign – thus safe from relegation – he left the club, joining another top division team, Académica de Coimbra.
On 21 December 2010, Costa announced his departure from Académica and his retirement from coaching, citing personal reasons. 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
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n side CFR Cluj
CFR Cluj
CFR Cluj is a Romanian professional football club from the city of Cluj-Napoca in Transylvania, Romania. The club had spent most of their existence in the lower divisions, except for a spell in Divizia A in the 1970s, until they received significant financial backing from Árpád Pászkány in 2002...
.
Club statistics
|-|1990–91||Penafiel||Portuguese League||23||3||||||||||||||||
|-
|1991–92||Marítimo||Portuguese League||31||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1992–93||rowspan="10"|Porto||rowspan="10"|Portuguese League||8||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1993–94||13||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1994–95||13||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1995–96||21||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|1996–97||26||4||||||||||||||||
|-
|1997–98||13||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|1998–99||33||2||||||||||||||||
|-
|1999-00||31||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|2000–01||20||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|2001–02||6||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|2001–02||Charlton
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
||Premier League||24||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|2002–03||rowspan="4"|Porto||rowspan="4"|Portuguese League||26||2||||||||||||||||
|-
|2003–04||19||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|2004–05||22||1||||||||||||||||
|-
|2005–06||0||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|2005–06||Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
||Belgian League||13||0||||||||||||||||
305||20||||||||||||||||
24||0||||||||||||||||
13||0||||||||||||||||
342||20||||||||||||||||
Club
- UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: 2003–04 - UEFA Cup: 2002–03
- Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (football)The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
: 20042004 Intercontinental CupThe 2004 Intercontinental Cup was a football match played on 12 December 2004 between FC Porto, winners of 2003–04 UEFA Champions League, and Once Caldas, winners of the 2004 Copa Libertadores. The match was played at the neutral venue of the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan, in... - Portuguese League: 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2002–03, 2003–04
- Portuguese CupTaça de PortugalThe Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
: 1993–94, 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03 - Portuguese Supercup: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004