Every game he played for Charlton was a masterclass in defending at the highest level. Loved the way he would win the ball in the tackle and lay it off to poor old Luke Young (who was sometimes apt to panic a bit) with a "I've done my job sonny now you do yours" attitude.
My favorite JC story is when he came up against the much vaunted Sunderland duo of Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips at the Valley. He was giving them nothing and Quinn was constantly whining to the ref about rough tactics. After one failed Sunderland attack, the play had gone up the other end and the players were walking back out of the Charlton area and JC jogged up behind Quinn and gave him a sharp kick in the back of the calf. Quinn immediately started bleating again to the ref who just ignored him. Quinn shut up after that.
Absolutely brilliant defender; Curbs called him aggressive that’s one way of putting it. I remember him tackling Rebrov and I just wondered at the time how are they going to get the poor bloke of the roof. RIP Jorge.
This thread has just reminded me how good he was. Some fantastic memories and stories coming out on here. I remember he was good, but I forgot just what a colossus of a footballer he really was. In my original post I said 'potentially' one of the best Charlton defenders or something along that line.
There is no potentially about it. He was the best defender I have ever seen and probably ever will see playing for this football club and it isn't even close.
So lucky to have seen him in a Charlton shirt. An immense presence and what a player. "He comes from Portugal" ... taught my three-year-old the politer version of the chant at the time and I got told off by her nursery!
Awesome video. One thing I noticed was that after being clattered, not one attacker retaliated or even complained. Either out of respect for Jorge or more probably out of fear. What an absolute legend 👏
It's very rare for a player to make such a huge and long lasting impact in such a short time over so few games. The only others that come to mind is Connor Gallagher, Allan Simonsen and Paolo DiCanio.
just thought of another one, David Whyte who we signed permanently from Palace after his short "taster" loan spell.
It's very rare for a player to make such a huge and long lasting impact in such a short time over so few games. The only others that come to mind is Connor Gallagher, Allan Simonsen and Paolo DiCanio.
Gallagher was great, but the other 3 were on another level for us (plus Gallagher jumped ship after 6 months)
It's very rare for a player to make such a huge and long lasting impact in such a short time over so few games. The only others that come to mind is Connor Gallagher, Allan Simonsen and Paolo DiCanio.
Gallagher was great, but the other 3 were on another level for us (plus Gallagher jumped ship after 6 months)
he didnt jump ship so much as he was forced to walk the plank and swim to Swansea under protest.
This thread is an absolute measure of how loved he was and still is at Charlton. Pure quality - I'm honoured to have seen such a great player playing for my club. He will be forever part of Charlton Athletic.
That’s a shock to read of his passing. One popular addition to the team from the time the Addicks were riding high. I can remember watching his very first crunching tackle at the Valley, and thinking, yes, that’ll do nicely.👍🏻 Thanks for those great memories Jorge. RIP.
I can't remember who told the story, think it may have been Curbs, of how much Jorge loved his song and how he used to sing it all the time at the training ground. Always makes me smile to think about him doing that. I'm sure it'll be sung loud and proud by us all on Saturday
I was so looking forward to Jorge one day soon returning to the Valley, like so many other legends have done recently. I imagine that he'd have got a hell of a welcome with his song echoing around the Valley. Hopefully that will happen on Saturday in his absence.
One of my favourite ever Charlton players. He wasn't fast but he read the game so well that he didn't need to be. If he tackled you, you knew you had been tackled. A great influence on the other players too. Rest In Peace Tank.
I don't know if these have been mentioned already, but they're a couple of my memories of Jorge.
1. He and his wife had recently had a baby before he joined us in December. Curbs gave him Xmas off to be with his family, but Jorge said he wanted to play on Boxing Day, against Fulham. Curbs said no, but Jorge flew back anyway on Xmas Day. He was left on the bench, but came on in the first half when Mark Fish was injured. We drew 0-0. (A bit different from Danny Mills's attitude a few years later).
2. There used to be a Portuguese restaurant in Lee Green called Villa Mouro. Apparently he was a regular, and they had some large photos of him on the wall. I read a review that praised the large portions, and said that this would have attracted him. For non-football fans they explained "Jorge Costa is not your tricky little winger type of player".
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My favorite JC story is when he came up against the much vaunted Sunderland duo of Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips at the Valley. He was giving them nothing and Quinn was constantly whining to the ref about rough tactics. After one failed Sunderland attack, the play had gone up the other end and the players were walking back out of the Charlton area and JC jogged up behind Quinn and gave him a sharp kick in the back of the calf. Quinn immediately started bleating again to the ref who just ignored him. Quinn shut up after that.
I remember him tackling Rebrov and I just wondered at the time how are they going to get the poor bloke of the roof.
RIP Jorge.
I was at Old Trafford for the 0-0 and recognised the adoration we had for you even at a very young age, RIP.
Concerned about the ages of some of these ex- footballers/sportsmen passing away due to cardiovascular issues.
There is no potentially about it. He was the best defender I have ever seen and probably ever will see playing for this football club and it isn't even close.
One thing I noticed was that after being clattered, not one attacker retaliated or even complained.
Either out of respect for Jorge or more probably out of fear. What an absolute legend 👏
What a guy.
💪 ❤️
He will be forever part of Charlton Athletic.
One popular addition to the team from the time the Addicks were riding high. I can remember watching his very first crunching tackle at the Valley, and thinking, yes, that’ll do nicely.👍🏻
Thanks for those great memories Jorge.
RIP.
I'm sure it'll be sung loud and proud by us all on Saturday
I imagine that he'd have got a hell of a welcome with his song echoing around the Valley. Hopefully that will happen on Saturday in his absence.
1. He and his wife had recently had a baby before he joined us in December. Curbs gave him Xmas off to be with his family, but Jorge said he wanted to play on Boxing Day, against Fulham. Curbs said no, but Jorge flew back anyway on Xmas Day. He was left on the bench, but came on in the first half when Mark Fish was injured. We drew 0-0. (A bit different from Danny Mills's attitude a few years later).
2. There used to be a Portuguese restaurant in Lee Green called Villa Mouro. Apparently he was a regular, and they had some large photos of him on the wall. I read a review that praised the large portions, and said that this would have attracted him. For non-football fans they explained "Jorge Costa is not your tricky little winger type of player".
RIP