Artur Jorge

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

As a junior player, Artur Jorge started at the junior team of FC Porto. As professional player, he played for Académica de Coimbra and Benfica, before ending his career at Belenenses in the 1977–78 season, due to a serious injury suffered at a training session in the Estádio Nacional where he broke a leg. He also had a stint in the North American Soccer League with the Rochester Lancers. After his player career, Artur Jorge went to Leipzig, East Germany, to study football and training methodology. He started his managerial career working with Vitória de Guimarães, moving on to Belenenses, Portimonense and then signing with Porto for the 1984–85 season, where he won three national champion titles and two Taça de Portugal titles. His greatest success was to win the European Cup with Porto over favourites Bayern Munich 2–1. Jorge was known as "Rei Artur" ("King Arthur") from then on. He moved to Racing Paris the next season, and returned to Porto in 1989–90. He then moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 1991–92, where he won the national championship in 1993–94. Artur Jorge moved to Benfica in 1994–95, finishing third with his team, and was replaced at the beginning of the following season. He went to become coach of several other clubs including Académica de Coimbra, Vitesse Arnhem, Tenerife and CSKA Moscow. He managed the Portugal national team, initially while still Porto coach during the 1989–90 and 1990–91 seasons, and again during the 1996–97 season. He also managed the Switzerland team at UEFA Euro 1996, replacing Roy Hodgson under whom they had qualified. From 2004 he managed Cameroon. He failed to lead his team to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He managed Saudi club Al-Nasr for only two cup matches and was sacked following a 4–1 defeat by lowly club Al-Faisaly. He then managed French second division team Créteil in 2006–07. On 27 November 2014, Artur Jorge joined Algerian club MC Alger, ending a seven-year period without coaching. Jorge died on 22 February 2024, at the age of 78.

In Their Own Story

Artur Jorge started as a junior at FC Porto, then played professionally for Académica de Coimbra and Benfica. His career concluded with Belenenses in the 1977–78 season after breaking his leg in training at the Estádio Nacional. He won four Primeira Liga titles with Benfica: 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, and 1974–75.

Reader's Guide

Artur Jorge won three Primeira Liga titles with Benfica as a player (1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73). As a manager, his honours include: with Porto – Primeira Liga (1984–85, 1985–86, 1989–90), Taça de Portugal (1990–91), Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (1984, 1986, 1990), European Cup (1986–87); with Paris Saint-Germain – Division 1 (1993–94), Coupe de France (1992–93); with Al Hilal – Saudi Premier League (2001–02), Asian Cup Winners' Cup (2001–02); with CSKA Moscow – Russian Super Cup (2004).

Did You Know?

• Artur Jorge broke his leg during a training session at the Estádio Nacional, ending his playing career.
• He studied football and training methodology in Leipzig, East Germany, after retiring as a player.
• He was nicknamed 'Rei Artur' (King Arthur) after winning the European Cup with Porto in 1987.
• He managed the Switzerland national team at UEFA Euro 1996, replacing Roy Hodgson.