Bahian football and Axé mourn together this Wednesday (13th). Jorge Sampaio, a successful businessman in Axé and former president of Vitória, has died at the age of 65. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Sampaio, a music entrepreneur who has collaborated with names such as Ivete Sangalo, Tatau and Daniela Mercury, has become one of the great references when it comes to parties in Bahia, especially the Salvador Carnival. Jorginho was also one of the founders of Banda and the Eva Block. In 2006, he took a break from the hustle and bustle to take command of Vitória in the midst of Serie C and worked on the recovery of Leão, who managed to gain promotion to Serie A in 2007.
“The transition wasn’t difficult. After all, music and football are mass events. There are similarities,” he said when asked about working in the sport.
Jorge Sampaio was president of Vitória | from 2006 to 2009 Photo: Max Haack / Ag. Haack / Bahia Notícias
He left his favorite club in 2009 and only returned to Leão in 2017, where he worked as an advisor to the football department under former president Ivã de Almeida.
In recent years, Jorginho has suffered from many health problems. He struggled with heart attacks and Covid19. His last hospitalization was in December last year when he was in serious condition due to another heart attack.
In a statement, Vitória regretted what happened. “The former president played an important role in the takeover of S/A and, together with the club's directors, led RubroNegro back to the Série A (2007). We wish family and friends a lot of strength during this difficult time,” says the text published on social media.