Jorge Costa, wearing No.2, pictured with the Portuguese national team in 2002. -AP
Former Porto captain Jorge Costa has died at the age of 53 after suffering a cardiac arrest at the club's training centre, the Portuguese side said.
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The former defender, who was serving as Porto's Director of Professional Football in his second season in the role, was rushed to hospital but could not be saved.
"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," the club said in a statement on Tuesday. "He left his mark on generations of fans and became a symbol of Portismo."
Costa played 530 games in all competitions including 383 for Porto and 50 for Portugal's national team.
As captain, he led Porto to UEFA Cup glory in 2003 and a Champions League triumph in 2004 under manager Jose Mourinho.
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