Liverpool -head coach Arne Slot has paid tribute to “very special” Diogo Jota, after the attacker was killed in a car accident in Spain.
It is understood that the 28-year-old and his brother, Andre Silva, 25, died when Jota returned to Liverpool for training for the season, which starts next week, and that he would take a ferry back to England because he was advised not to fly after a small operation.
Jota won the Premier League last season with Liverpool under the management of Slot and scored 65 goals in 182 performances for the club after he came to Wolves in 2020. He also lifted a FA Cup and two Carabao cups with Liverpool.
In a statement that was released on the Liverpool website, Slot said: “What to say? What can anyone say at the moment when the shock and the pain are so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words, but I know I don't.
“The only thing I have are feelings that I know will share so many people about a person and a player of whom we loved a lot and a family we give so much about.
“My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are from a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.
“My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone. The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and what I have seen today, the same can be said about the wider family of football.
“This is not only a reaction to tragedy. It is also a reaction to the goodness of the people involved and the respect that so many have for the boys as individuals and for the family as a whole.
“For us as a club, the feeling of shock is absolutely. Diogo was not only our player. He was a loved one for all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a employees and in all those roles he was very special.
“I could say so much about what he brought to our team, but the truth is that everyone who played Diogo could see it. Hard work, desire, dedication, great quality, goals. The essence of what a Liverpool player should be.
“There were also the parts that not everyone got to see. The person who never sought popularity but nevertheless found it. Not a friend for two people, a friend for everyone. Someone who felt good about themselves about themselves, just by being with them. A person who took care of his family deep.
“The last time we spoke, I congratulated Diogo on winning the Nations League and wished him happiness for his upcoming wedding. In many ways it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, making it all the more heartbreaking that it should end that way.
“When I came to the club for the first time, one of the first songs I learned to know our fans for Diogo. I had not worked with him before, but I immediately knew that if the Liverpool supporters, who have seen so many great players, would have such a unique singing for Diogo, he must have special qualities.
“The fact that we have lost those qualities in such terrible circumstances is something that we have not yet come to terms. For this reason we need everyone in the club to stand together and to be there for each other. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and for ourselves.
“My condolences go to Diogo's wife, RUTE, their three beautiful children and to the parents of Diogo and Andre Silva.
“If time is ripe, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being we will remember him as a unique person and his loss mourn. He will never be forgotten.
“His name is Diogo.”
'You will never walk alone' – The leaders of Liverpool express their respect to Jota
Liverpool has released a statement on behalf of Billy Hogan, CEO of FSG International, John Henry, founder of FSG, Tom Werner, chairman of FSG, and Mike Gordon, president of FSG:
On behalf of the leadership teams at Liverpool Football Club and Fenway Sports Group, we offer our sincere and sincere condolences to the family and friends of our number 20 – Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva.
This tragic situation and its reality is really shocking, devastating and have made us numb sorrow. We can therefore not imagine how the direct and broader family of these remarkable brothers should feel. Our thoughts, prayers and support are all with them.
We all know what Diogo could do at the game of the game and the vital role he played in our successes since he came to this club in 2020. How he quickly became a fanfan fall, and his song was echoed around Anfield and in stadiums around the world.
So many special moments, so many special memories.
But beyond the player we all knew, was a wonderfully modest person, he was sincere, intelligent, funny, tough and created connections with people wherever he went. He had a zest for life for life that was completely contagious. Diogo was a loving father, son, husband and brother, and we, and everyone who knew him, will miss him deeply if we all try to process the enormous size of today.
Rest in Peace, Diogo and Andre. You will never walk alone.
Billy, John, Tom, Mike.
Liverpool also published a statement on behalf of Michael Edwards, FSG's Chief Executive of Voetbal, and Richard Hughes, the club's sports director:
There is nothing we can say at the moment to alleviate the pain of such a devastating tragedy. We all feel completely robbed now.
In such heartbreaking circumstances, it is our responsibility to acknowledge the collective sorrow that we experience, to pay tribute to our Diogo and to offer unwavering support to his family who currently remains our absolute priority.
Diogo's wife, RUTE, their three beautiful children, his parents and wider family are confronted with an unimaginable loss. This tragic accident has not only taken Diogo, but also his brother, Andre Silva. We both mourn them right. We must respect the privacy of the family and give them the space to mourn how they are needed.
Of course we – his Liverpool family – also have trouble getting to terms with what happened. As his teammates, friends and colleagues, we are consumed by shock and sorrow. We know our supporters, his national team, former clubs and teammates and the broader football community in this grief. This is a tragedy that transcends Liverpool Football Club.
In the coming days we as a club will honor our beloved number 20 with the respect and affection that he deserves so rich. We will strive to make this tribute meaningful and to make our supporters inclusive, with whom Diogo meant so much.
For now we express a love that is filled with deep sorrow and pain. We have lost someone really irreplaciously.
Rest in Peace, Diogo.
Klopp: We will miss you so much
Jurgen Klopp – who signed Jota for Liverpool – said he was deeply sad to hear from the death of his former player.
In an Instagram post he said: “This is a moment when I struggle! There must be a bigger goal! But I can't see it!
“I am deeply sad to hear about the death of Diogo and his brother Andre. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a good friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!”
CARRIJFHER 'In a shock' after Jota Death
The accident took place at 12.30 pm local time on Thursday (Wednesday 11 p.m. BST) on the A-52 highway in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora.
The Jota and his brother car traveled to the left and fought fire after a suspected Burst band during catching up, according to a statement issued to Sky Sports News by the civil guard in Zamora.
Jota was married less than two weeks ago to his long -term partner, Rute Cardoso, and had three children.
Jamie Carragher described his shock about the news and brought Jota to Jota as a “family man”.
“It is one of the few times that the entire football family comes together,” he told Sky Sports News. “I can't believe it, it's so sad and devastating for his family, his wife and three great children.
“He lived very close to us, but kept himself in front of himself. He came across as very quiet and modest, a real family man. Seemed like a great guy and of course a great football player.
“It's hard to find the words to say. It's not really about football and Liverpool, but about his family and three sweet children.
“The summer he has had, he has just won the Premier League with Liverpool, the Nations League with Portugal and was married two weeks ago. It simply shows how quickly life can change, you can't even understand.
“It all takes us to take a step back and see how important things are real, maybe football itself. We are passionate about the game, including myself, but this makes you think, why? For what?”
Jota's Liverpool teammate Darwin Nunez wrote on Instagram: “There are no words of comfort for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile, like a good companion on and next to the field.
“I send all my strength to his family. From where he is, I am sure that he will always be with you, especially his wife and three children.”
Last tribute flows out around football
Wolves, where Jota spent a total of three years, placed a tribute to their former player and said: “We are deeply sad.
“Diogo was worshiped by our fans, loved by his teammates and cherished by everyone who worked with him during his time at Wolves. The memories he created will never be forgotten.
“Our hearts go to the family, friends and loved ones of Diogo and his brother, Andre. You will really be missed and always remembered.”
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who played with Jota for the national team, said on social media: “It is not logical. We were just together in the national team, just now you were married.
“To your family, your wife and your children, I send my participation and I wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in Vrede, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.”
In addition to former clubs, teammates and managers, reverence was paid to Jota from all over the world of football.
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