Jorge Costa

Jorge Costa
Costa with Standard Liège in 2005
Personal information
Full name Jorge Paulo Costa Almeida
Date of birth (1971-10-14)14 October 1971
Place of birth Porto, Portugal
Date of death 5 August 2025(2025-08-05) (aged 53)
Place of death Porto, Portugal
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position Centre-back
Youth career
1986–1987 Foz
1987–1990 Porto
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–2005 Porto 251 (16)
1990–1991Penafiel (loan) 23 (3)
1991–1992Marítimo (loan) 31 (1)
2001–2002Charlton Athletic (loan) 24 (0)
2005–2006 Standard Liège 13 (0)
Total 342 (20)
International career
1990–1991 Portugal U20 10 (1)
1991–1994 Portugal U21 21 (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
2022–2023 Académico Viseu
2023–2024 AVS
Medal record
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

Jorge Paulo Costa Almeida (14 October 1971 – 5 August 2025) was a Portuguese professional football player and manager.

Nicknamed Bicho (animal) and Tanque (tank) by his colleagues and fans for his aggressive and physical playing style as a central defender, he spent most of his career with Porto, being captain for several seasons and winning a total of 24 major titles, notably eight Primeira Liga championships and the 2004 Champions League. He also had brief spells in England with Charlton Athletic and in Belgium with Standard Liège.

Having earned 50 caps for Portugal, Costa represented the nation at one World Cup and one European Championship. He also won the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship with the under-20 team.

After retiring, he worked as a manager for several clubs as well as the Gabon national team. From June 2024 until his death, he was director of football at Porto.