PORTO, Portugal (AP) — Artur Jorge, the Portuguese soccer coach who led Porto to the European Cup title in 1987 and had two spells in charge of his national team, has died. He was 78.
Jorge’s death was announced through a family statement issued in Portuguese media, including state broadcaster RTP. It said Jorge “died peacefully, surrounded by his closest family” after a long illness.
Easily identifiable because of his thick moustache, Jorge was best known for becoming the first Portuguese coach to win the European Cup when Porto beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in Vienna thanks to two late goals — the first being an impudent backheel by Rabah Madjer.
He coached Porto in two spells — from 1984-87 and 1989-91 — and won the Portuguese league three times with the team. He also won the French league as a coach with Paris Saint-Germain in 1994, and managed clubs in Spain, the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Algeria.
As an international coach, he had two spells in charge of Portugal in the 1990s either side of leading Switzerland at the European Championship in 1996. He also coached Cameroon.
Jorge made 16 appearances for Portugal as a striker, and won four league titles and two Portuguese Cups with Benfica, where he was the top scorer in the Portuguese championship in 1970-71 and 1971-72.
The Portuguese Football Federation said there would be a minute’s silence at games in the country from Thursday.
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