Jorge Costa

For the racewalker, see Jorge Costa (racewalker).

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Costa and the second or paternal family name is Almeida.

Jorge Paulo Costa Almeida (born 14 October 1971) is a Portuguese retired footballer who played as a central defender, currently manager of Académico de Viseu.

Jorge Costa

Personal information
Full name	Jorge Paulo Costa Almeida
Date of birth	(1971-10-14) 14 October 1971 (age 51)
Place of birth	Porto, Portugal
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Club information
Current team	Académico Viseu (manager)
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)
International career
1991	Portugal U20	10	(1)
1992–1994	Portugal U21	22	(2)
1992–2002	Portugal	50	(2)
Managerial career
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
2020–2021	Gaz Metan Mediaș
2021	Farense
2022	Sfaxien
2022–	Académico Viseu
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
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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 as well as the Gabon national team.

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]

Costa finally joined Porto in the 1992–93 campaign, eventually becoming a starter. Five seasons later he switched to jersey No. 2, previously worn by João 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.

Costa returned to Porto in the summer of 2002 as José Mourinho was now in charge, 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 skipper in a row to lift cups at international level (following Pinto and Fernando Gomes).^[10] The player's winning streak continued as the next season he lifted the Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup.^{[11][12][13][14]}

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,^[15] and helped his new team 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.^[16]

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.^[17] He played alongside Fernando Couto as the team reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands.^[18]

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.^[19] He retired from international football after a group stage elimination at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, having played 50 games;^[20] in that competition, he scored an own goal in a 2–3 loss to the United States.^[21]

Previously, in 1991, Costa was an undisputed starter as the Portuguese team won the FIFA U-20 World Cup.^[22][23]

Coaching career

2000s

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.^[24]

After again guiding Braga to the UEFA Cup group stage, Costa was fired midway through his second year.^[25] 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.^[26] After helping them to the 13th position the following campaign – thus safe from relegation – he left, joining another top-division club, Académica de Coimbra.^[27]

Costa announced his departure from Académica and his retirement from coaching on 21 December 2010, citing personal reasons.^[28] The team was placed in ninth position after the 14th round, eventually narrowly escaping relegation.

2010s

In May 2011, Costa reneged on his retirement and signed a contract with Romania's CFR Cluj.^[29] He was dismissed the following 8 April with the team five points clear in first place with nine games to go in Liga I, following a 5–0 home loss to nearest challengers CS Dinamo București.^[30]

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.^[31] In the following summer he moved teams but stayed in Cyprus, penning a 1+1 deal with Anorthosis Famagusta FC.^[32]

Costa coached the Gabon national team from 2014 until November 2016, being ousted from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations group stage after one win and two losses.^[33] He returned to club duties on 15 May 2017, being appointed at CS Sfaxien.^[34] He moved back to his homeland in the following off-season, signing at Segunda Liga side F.C. Arouca^[35] and leaving by mutual consent less than three months later due to a poor string of results.^[36]

On 22 November 2017, Costa was hired at Tours FC, last-placed in France's Ligue 2.^[37] At the end of the season, with the club relegated in the same position, he resigned with a year remaining on his contract.^[38]

In August 2018, Costa signed for Mumbai City FC for the upcoming campaign of the Indian Super League.^[39] 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.^[40] On 5 March 2020, after finishing one place off qualification for the post-season, he was allowed to leave.^[41]

2020s

On 23 September 2020, Gustavo Ndong Edu, president of the Equatoguinean Football Federation, announced that Costa would be the new coach of the national team.^[42] Six days later, however, he decided to join Romania's CS Gaz Metan Mediaș instead.^[43][44]

Costa returned to the Portuguese top tier on 4 February 2021, replacing the dismissed Sérgio Vieira at S.C. Farense on a four-month contract.^[45] In spite of relegation to the second division,^[46] he signed a new deal;^[47] on 30 August, however, he left by mutual consent after only one point in four matches to start the new campaign.^[48]

On 3 February 2022, Costa returned to Sfaxien for the remainder of the season.^[49] He was dismissed on 7 April after a six-game winless run, concluding with a 1–1 draw at home to ES Hammam-Sousse.^[50]

Costa went back to his country's second tier on 7 September 2022, being hired by Académico de Viseu F.C. in place of Pedro Ribeiro.^[51] On 20 December, he led the team to a 2–1 home win over top-flight club Boavista F.C. to make the semi-finals of the Taça da Liga for the first time.^[52] They were eliminated there by Porto, as in the quarter-finals of the national cup.^[53]

Career statistics

Club

^[54]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Porto	1992–93	Primeira Divisão	8	1	1	0	6	1	–		15	2
	1993–94	Primeira Divisão	13	0	3	1	6	0	–		22	1
	1994–95	Primeira Divisão	13	1	3	1	4	1	–		20	3
	1995–96	Primeira Divisão	21	1	3	1	3	0	1	0	28	2
	1996–97	Primeira Divisão	26	4	4	0	7	0	2	1	39	5
	1997–98	Primeira Divisão	13	0	4	0	0	0	–		17	0
	1998–99	Primeira Divisão	33	2	1	0	5	0	2	0	41	2
	1999–2000	Primeira Liga	31	1	4	0	12	1	2	0	49	2
	2000–01	Primeira Liga	20	1	3	0	10	0	2	0	35	1
	2001–02	Primeira Liga	6	1	0	0	6	0	1	0	13	1
	2002–03	Primeira Liga	26	2	3	1	12	0	–		41	3
	2003–04	Primeira Liga	19	1	2	0	10	0	1	0	32	1
	2004–05	Primeira Liga	22	1	0	0	7	1	2	0	31	2
	Total		251	16	31	4	88	4	13	1	383	25
Penafiel (loan)	1990–91	Primeira Divisão	23	3	0	0	–		–		23	3
Marítimo (loan)	1991–92	Primeira Divisão	31	1	0	0	–		–		31	1
Charlton Athletic (loan)	2001–02	Premier League	24	0	2	0	–		–		26	0
Standard Liège	2005–06	Belgian First Division A	13	0	0	0	–		–		13	0
Career Total			342	20	33	4	88	4	13	1	476	29

International

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Portugal^[55]	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^[55]

No.	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

Managerial statistics

As of match played 4 February 2023^[56][57]

Managerial record by team and tenure

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Braga		19 February 2007	30 October 2007	29	12	7	10	33	28	+5	041.38
Olhanense		16 June 2008	9 May 2010	72	26	21	25	95	95	+0	036.11
Académica		8 June 2010	21 December 2010	18	7	4	7	29	33	−4	038.89
CFR Cluj		1 June 2011	9 April 2012	26	15	6	5	45	23	+22	057.69
AEL Limassol		24 October 2012	22 May 2013	37	20	8	9	65	38	+27	054.05
Anorthosis		18 August 2013	5 February 2014	23	11	6	6	46	28	+18	047.83
Paços Ferreira		26 February 2014	22 May 2014	12	4	3	5	15	20	−5	033.33
Gabon		11 July 2014	4 November 2016	33	11	9	13	37	36	+1	033.33
Sfaxien		14 May 2017	14 June 2017	3	2	0	1	6	2	+4	066.67
Arouca		29 June 2017	14 September 2017	8	1	4	3	4	9	−5	012.50
Tours		22 November 2017	25 May 2018	27	6	7	14	33	44	−11	022.22
Mumbai City		14 August 2018	5 March 2020	39	17	8	14	52	56	−4	043.59
Gaz Metan Mediaș		30 September 2020	2 February 2021	15	6	2	7	23	22	+1	040.00
Farense		4 February 2021	30 August 2021	25	5	9	11	21	35	−14	020.00
Sfaxien		3 February 2022	7 April 2022	11	2	4	5	6	9	−3	018.18
Académico Viseu		7 September 2022	Present	24	15	6	3	48	26	+22	062.50
Total				402	160	104	138	558	504	+54	039.80

Honours

Player

Porto^[56]

• 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, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004
• UEFA Champions League: 2003–04
• UEFA Cup: 2002–03
• Intercontinental Cup: 2004

Portugal

• FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1991^[23]

Individual

• Portuguese Golden Ball: 2000

Manager

Olhanense

• Segunda Liga: 2008–09^[26]

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']. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 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. London. 8 August 2002. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
8. Match report; at RSSSF
9. . BBC Sport. 28 February 2001. Archived from the original on 2 April 2003. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
10. "Mourinho elogia Jorge Costa e diz: "Tive capitães que não eram líderes"" [Mourinho praises Jorge Costa and says: "I've had captains who were not leaders"]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 13 December 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
11. "Uefa Cup final player ratings". BBC Sport. 21 May 2003. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
12. "Porto fulfil treble dream". UEFA. 15 June 2003. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
13. "Porto perform to perfection". UEFA. 27 May 2004. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
14. "Porto triumph in World Club Cup". BBC Sport. 13 December 2004. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
15. Jorge Costa to help Standard fly; UEFA, 12 December 2005
16. "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.
17. "Título mundial em Lisboa inesquecível" [Unforgettable world title in Lisbon]. Record (in Portuguese). 4 August 2002. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
18. "The retro Euro teams we loved: Portugal, 2000". The 42. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
19. "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.
20. Alexander, Douglas (17 November 2002). "Portugal's broken dreams". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
21. USA stun Portugal; BBC Sport, 5 June 2002
22. – FIFA competition record (archived)
23. 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.
24. Sinnott, John (14 March 2007). "Tottenham 3–2 Braga (agg 6–4)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
25. Liga lethargy costs Jorge Costa; UEFA, 30 October 2007
26. "Olhanense campeão" [Olhanense champions] (in Portuguese). Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
27. "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.
28. Pereira, Carlos (23 December 2010). "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. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
29. Cruz Martins, André (19 May 2011). [Jorge Costa confirmed at Cluj] (in Portuguese). Relvado. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
30. "Jorge Costa despedido do Cluj" [Jorge Costa dismissed from Cluj]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 8 April 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
31. Ο Ζόρζε Κόστα νέος προπονητής [Jorge Costa the new coach] (in Greek). AEL Limassol. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
32. [Jorge Costa takes the reins] (in Greek). Anorthosis FC. 17 August 2013. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
33. "Gabon preps in disarray as coach leaves". BBC Sport. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
34. 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.
35. 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.
36. "OFICIAL: Jorge Costa deixa Arouca" [OFFICIAL: Jorge Costa leaves Arouca] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
37. "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.
38. "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.
39. "Jorge Costa appointed Mumbai City FC head coach". The Hindu. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
40. Murar, Nandakumar (13 March 2019). "A 1–0 win not enough for Mumbai City as FC Goa progresses". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
41. "Mumbai City FC part ways with head coach Jorge Costa". The New Indian Express. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
42. "Jorge Costa appointed new Equatorial Guinea coach". Confederation of African Football. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
43. "Guiné Equatorial anuncia Jorge Costa, mas treinador pode rumar à Roménia" [Equatorial Guinea announce Jorge Costa, but manager may head to Romania]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 24 September 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
44. Preotu, Andrei; Vrînceanu, Victor (29 September 2020). "Jorge Costa, noul antrenor al lui Gaz Metan Mediaș! Când are loc prezentarea oficială a portughezului | FOTO" [Jorge Costa, new coach of Gaz Metan Mediaș! When will the Portuguese be officially presented | PHOTO]. ProSport (in Romanian). Retrieved 8 October 2020.
45. Encarnação, Carlos (4 February 2021). "Jorge Costa oficializado: o contrato e a estreia do novo treinador do Farense" [Jorge Costa confirmed: Farense's new manager contract and debut]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 February 2021.
46. Paiva, Rui Pedro (20 May 2021). "Jorge Costa: "A nossa falta de maturidade e de experiência notou-se"" [Jorge Costa: "Our lack of maturity and experience showed"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
47. Alves, Armando (28 May 2021). "Jorge Costa continua no Farense" [Jorge Costa staying at Farense]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 24 August 2021.
48. "OFICIAL: Jorge Costa deixa comando técnico do Farense" [OFFICIAL: Jorge Costa no longer in charge of Farense] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
49. Loum, Mansour (3 February 2022). "CS Sfaxien: le Portugais Jorge Costa remplace l'Italien Solinas" [CS Sfaxien: Portuguese Jorge Costa replaces Italian Solinas] (in French). Sport News Africa. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
50. Rania, Jerbi (7 April 2022). "Tunisie-CS Sfaxien: Jorge Costa limogé" [Tunisia-CS Sfaxien: Jorge Costa sacked] (in French). Africa Foot United. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
51. "Jorge Costa é o novo treinador do Académico de Viseu" [Jorge Costa is the new manager of Académico de Viseu]. Record (in Portuguese). 7 September 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
52. "Académico de Viseu vence Boavista e vai à final four da Taça da Liga" [Académico de Viseu defeat Boavista and go to the final four of the Taça da Liga]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 20 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
53. "Jorge Costa e a derrota com o FC Porto: "Quis manter o respeito, mas ser mais atrevido"" [Jorge Costa and the defeat to FC Porto: "I wanted to maintain respect, but be more daring"]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
54. at ForaDeJogo (archived)  
55. "Jorge Costa". European Football. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
56. Jorge Costa coach profile at Soccerway
57. at ForaDeJogo (archived)

External links

• at ForaDeJogo (archived)  
• at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Jorge Costa at Soccerbase  
• Jorge Costa national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
• Jorge Costa at National-Football-Teams.com