While addressing the media ahead Kenya’s second game of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) against Angola, a journalist posed a question to the former South African legend asking him how he received the news about Costa’s demise.
At first, McCarthy bowed down his head with tears flowing freely. After absorbing the news for the second time, he responded while wiping away the tears.
“Yesterday was difficult since receiving the sad news," he said, as quoted by Mozzart Sports. "It is difficult to believe considering he was still young and ordinarily a lot was lying ahead of him.
“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.
"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 was like an elder brother, our leader’
McCarthy continued: “He was like an elder brother, our leader. He always stood up for everyone. What makes it even sadder is knowing I will not get the chance to say my final goodbyes or share everything I wanted to tell him. But above all, I choose to hold on to the incredible moments we shared.
“When I joined Porto, he was the toughest person I had ever met in football. I was just a kid from Africa, and he took me under his wing, looking out for me in so many ways. I have immense respect and admiration for him.
“We celebrated so many unforgettable moments together, including winning the Portuguese league, the Portuguese Cup, and the Champions League. To think that at such a young age, he is no longer with us is heartbreaking.”
McCarthy concluded: “He will always be part of Porto’s history as the longest-serving and most admired captain. That is the legacy he leaves behind.
I will always cherish that I had the chance to meet him, touch him, and play alongside him.
"He is not gone, nor forgotten, he lives within each of us. We will carry the best of him in our hearts and try to reflect it in our own lives.”
Nicknamed Bicho (animal) and Tanque (tank) by his colleagues and fans for his aggressive and physical playing style, Costa spent most of his career with Porto, being captain for several seasons and winning a total of 24 major titles, notably eight Primeira Liga championships and the 2004 Champions League. He also had one-year spells in England with Charlton Athletic and Belgium with Standard Liege.
Having earned 50 caps for Portugal, Costa represented the nation at one World Cup and one European Championship. He also won the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship with the under-20 team.
After retiring, he worked as a manager for several clubs as well as the Gabon national team. From June 2024 until his death, he was director of football at Porto.
