Sometimes, the game throws us a curveball, a moment that hits harder than any tackle. For Borja Sainz, a Spanish winger who joined FC Porto in January from Norwich, that moment arrived with the passing of Jorge Costa. Sainz, the focus of the latest Dragões magazine, quickly learned about Costa’s vital role at the club. This unexpected loss of the former professional football director left a deep wound.
Sainz finds it tough to speak about the subject. He admits to getting goosebumps just thinking about it. He didn’t know Costa for very long. Yet, Costa was always exceptional to him from their first meeting. He even treated Sainz’s family wonderfully when they came for his presentation. The day Jorge died was truly heartbreaking for everyone involved.
The team now carries a heavy weight. Sainz shared that everything they are doing is for Costa, because he truly deserves it. Costa was a beloved figure, a true Portista through and through. Sainz offers his courage to the family and holds onto the hope that the team will clinch a title this year in his honor.
Costa’s passion for the club was unmistakable. Sainz recalls Costa often telling him what a great club this was. You could see the love for FC Porto shining in Costa’s eyes. It was a profoundly difficult time, not just for newcomers like Sainz, but especially for those who had worked alongside Costa for many years. His influence, even as an eternal captain, lives on.
The shared grief brought the team closer than ever. Sainz believes the fierce fighting spirit they now show comes from having Costa with them, right there in the locker room. He summed it up perfectly: "He’s one more to enter the field with us." It’s a powerful reminder that some legends never truly leave the game.