PORTUGUESE football is mourning the passing of the legendary Artur Jorge at the age of 78.
The former striker enjoyed a playing career that culminated in 105 goals in 130 games for Benfica.
However, it was as a coach that he achieved iconic prestige and saw him voted European Coach of the Year in 1987 after winning the European Cup.
And Jorge also has the honour of being idolised by fans of rival clubs Benfica and Porto.
He won the Primeira Liga name 4 times as a player, the first between 1969 and 1975.
He then led Porto to three national championships in the first of his two terms in charge.
And he secured them European Cup glory in 1987 after beating Bayern Munich 2-1.
He also led Paris Saint-Germain to their second triumph in the French top flight in 1994 and then twice coached the national teams of Portugal and Switzerland, among others.
A statement from the family sent to the media read: “It is with deep sadness that the relatives of Artur Jorge Braga de Melo Teixeira announce his passing this morning in Lisbon after a long illness. “
A heartbreaking Porto player said: “Artur Jorge was a different guy and coach than usual.
“Extremely cultured, poet, music lover and art collector, he has established himself at the same time as one of the most successful football coaches of the last 20th century. His death leaves FC Porto without a legend.
Former PSG president Michel Denisot paid an emotional tribute.
He said: “Artur Jorge is the best coach I’ve ever met.
“Educated, cultured, passionate, strategic, uncompromising. . . with him, PSG has grown very quickly. “
In addition to PSG, he is remembered in the French capital after two years at Racing Paris.
Jorge also coached the Cameroon national team, but failed to secure their qualification for the 2006 World Cup.
After stints in the Middle East, he ended his coaching career at the age of 35 in 2015, after a season at the helm of Algerian club MC Alger.
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