McCarthy mourns departed ex-Porto teammate Costa

Midway a press conference at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani ahead of Kenya's African Nations Championship (CHAN) match  against Angola, the South African broke down after a journalist asked his reflection on the fallen ex-Porto star.

An emotional McCarthy paused for about a minute before gathering himself as he wiped tears, before passionately narrating his fond memories for Costa, who scored 20 goals for Porto.

"Yesterday was difficult since receiving the sad news. It is difficult to believe considering he was still young and ordinarily a lot was lying ahead of him," he said.

"It was a privilege to have touched him and played with him, one of the most admired captains at Porto. It is when you get such news and you wish you had called him at least last week  or you could have done something," the coach added.

He remembered Costa as a leader who always meant business, whose influence on the players was evident on and off the pitch.

"He is gone, but the memories will live forever with us. I convey my condolences to his wife and children. It is really sad, but it is what it is," he noted, adding that the current situation requires him to keep calm for the CHAN duty with Kenya. 

McCarthy had to be excused for some minutes to refocus about Thursday's game against Angola, journalists turning focus to Gor Mahia's Alphonse Omija, who jointly held the press conference with the coach.

Visibly, Omija was also sympathetic with his coach. 

Costa, a defender, led the Portuguese club to Champions League glory under manager Jose Mourinho in 2004 and won 50 caps for Portugal.

He spent a season on loan at Charlton in the Premier League in 2001-02 and retired from playing in 2006.

The centre-back moved into management and held positions at 16 clubs before taking up the role of Porto's director of professional football last season.

"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, adding that "he left his mark on generations of fans."

It is the third unexpected death of a former Porto player this summer following the tragic passing of former loanee Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in July, who spent six years at the club.

BBC Sport reported that Fenerbahce boss Mourinho, who managed Costa at Porto between 2002 and 2004, also fought back tears and paid tribute to his former captain at a news conference before Wednesday's Champions League third-round tie against Feyenoord.

"If he could speak with me now he would say 'do your press conference, tomorrow play the game mister and win the game - forget about me'," Mourinho said.

"I'm going to try and do my job today and tomorrow, and then I'll cry after."

Costa graduated from Porto's academy and went on to make 324 appearances for the club.

He won 24 trophies before leaving in 2005, including the Champions League, Uefa Cup and eight Primeira Liga titles.

In 2000, Costa won the Portuguese Golden Ball - an award given to the league's best player.

After falling out with Porto coach Octavio Machado, Costa joined Charlton on loan in 2001 and made 26 appearances for the Addicks.

Costa began his managerial career with Braga and the club said his "passing has shaken the entire national sporting community".

"Braga cannot help but share in the enormous grief felt by his family, his friends and the entire FC Porto organisation," the club added on X.

After stints in the dugout in Portugal with Braga, Olhanense and Academica, Costa managed teams in Romania, Cyprus, Tunisia and India.