A tearful Jose Mourinho stated: “It is a part of my history that goes” while trying to his former Porto captain Jorge Costa, who died at the age of 53.
Mourinho offered a tribute on Wednesday during a press conference for Fenerbahce's Champions League qualifying match, which fell just a few hours after the news from Costa.
Costa was the captain and Linchpin of Porto side of Mourinho, who killed the Champions League in 2004 famous.
The defender, who won 50 caps for Portugal, won 24 trophies during his time at Porto including the UEFA Cup and eight Primeira Liga titles.
Costa had returned to Porto as director of Voetbal last year after a management career that included 16 different teams.
He died on Tuesday in the Porto training center after a cardiac arrest.
“It is part of my history,” said a tearing Mourinho, before he was asked about his earlier reflection that Costa was not a captain, but a leader in his dressing room.
'You have captains and you have leaders. It's not always about the bracelet, but what you represent, “Mourinho added. 'And Jorge was one of these guys who cleaned the waste and let the coach do his work as a coach.
'That is perfection for a coach when his captain does this work. Of course I am very sad that it is part of my history that goes.
'But let's forget football, let's concentrate on him on Jorge, on his children I met when they were really children, but now being adult men.
'And I am here now, because if he could talk to me now, he would tell me, come on, do your press conference. And he would say that tomorrow the game will play sir, the game would win and forget me. That would be Jorge.
'So that's what I'm going to try to do, do my job today, do my job tomorrow and then cry. But today and tomorrow I have a job to do and I know that Jorge would tell me that I have to do my job. '
Mourinho had praised Costa in 2022 as a 'leader' of his team and remembered a story in which the center had told the 'dirty work' to express his anger during half-time in a match they had left 2-0.
He stated that Costa then asked him 'Coach' before the defender rare two goals scored to help secure a 3-2 victory.
According to reports in Portgual, Costa had had a cardiac arrest during the Porto training center.
Costa, who had had a heart attack earlier in 2022, reportedly complained several times about intense heat after giving a television interview to SportTV.
A Bola reported that the medical team of Porto offered first aid and used a defibrillator before Costa was brought to the Sao Joao hospital.
Costa was admitted to Intensive Care, but died in the early afternoon.
The former central defender played for Porto between 1990 and 2005 and made 324 performances in all matches for the club.
He is best remembered for serving as Captain of Mourinho when Porto won the Champions League famous in 2004.
Porto had defeated Manchester United, Lyon and Deportivo La Coruna in the knockout phase of the competition before he had broken down a 3-0 win over Monaco in the final.
Costa had also lifted the UEFA Cup last season and won the Portuguese title with the club eight times.
He also won the Intercontinental Cup, five Taca de Portugal trophies and eight super cups during his time in Porto.
Costa returned to the Porto last year to serve as director of Voetbal.
“Jorge Costa, the legendary FC Porto captain and current director of professional football, died of cardiac arrest this Tuesday,” said a Porto statement.
'Fútbol Clube do Porto expresses his deepest sorrow and consternation at the death of an inescapable figure in the history of the club.
'Throughout his life, both on and outside the field, Jorge Costa embodied the values that FC Porto defines: dedication, leadership, passion and a relentless spirit of performance. He touched generations of fans and became an important symbol of Porto.
'In this time of immense sorrow, Futebol Clube do Porto is expanding its deepest condolences to the family of Jorge Costa, his friends and everyone who shared unforgettable moments with him.
'Because this is a time of sorrow for his entire family and for the Porto Alegre family, we ask everyone to exercise the required discretion and respect in this time of farewell. More information will be released in due course.
'Jorge Costa's Legacy will forever live on in the memories of all Porto fans.
“You will never be forgotten, captain.”
The defender made 50 international performances for Portugal, including representing his nation at the 2002 World Cup.
Costa had a short spell in the Premier League and made 24 performances in a loan saying with Charlton in the 2001-02 season.
He ended his gaming career in Belgium with Standard Liège, before he started a management career with him to take the lead over 17 different teams.
This included coaching eight different Portuguese teams, including Braga, as well as spells in Cyprus, Romania, France, Tunisia, India and as head coach of the national team of Gabon.
A Braga -Teston was: 'SC Braga with deep sorrow received the news of the death of Jorge Costa, a historical figure in national football who also represented the colors of our club during his extensive sports career, both as head coach as an assistant coach.
“The terrible news of his passing shakes the entire national sports community, and SC Braga can only participate in the enormous pain that his family, his friends and the entire FC Porto structure have shared.”
Charlton also paid a tribute to writing in a statement: 'We are deeply sad to learn about the death of the former player Jorge Costa at the age of 53.
“The thoughts of everyone at Charlton Athletic are with Jorge's family and friends in this difficult time.”
Cristiano Ronaldo also shared a message on Instagram, writing 'Goodbye, Jorge Costa'
A tribute of UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin read: 'It is with deep sadness that we have heard of the sudden death of the Portuguese legend Jorge Costa.
“Jorge was more than a football player. He was a leader and a real warrior who inspired generations. He embodied grit, resilience and loyalty. '