Arne Slot's heartbreaking Diogo Jota statement in full - 'his name is Diogo'
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has written an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota
Liverpool star Diogo Jota died Thursday in a car accident in Spain
(Image: Photo by)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has released a heartbreaking personal statement after the death of forward Diogo Jota.
Jota was killed alongside his brother in the early hours of Thursday morning in a car crash in Spain.
The car they were travelling in suffered a tyre blowout, resulting in a crash and their vehicle being engulfed in flames.
It happened in the Zamora region of Sanabria and came just weeks after the Portuguese had tied the knot with his partner, with whom he has three young children.
The tragic news has hit football and transcended club colours, with tributes pouring in from around the world for the former Wolves player.
His manager, Slot, has now paid his own tribute in a lengthy and emotional statement.
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"What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not," the statement began.
"All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.
"My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of 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 from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football.
"This is not solely a response 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 sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special.
"I could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it. Hard work, desire, commitment, 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 found it anyway. Not a friend to two people, a friend to everyone. Someone who made others feel good about themselves just by being with them. A person who cared deeply for his family.
"The last time we spoke, I congratulated Diogo on winning the Nations League and wished him luck for his forthcoming wedding. In many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this.
"When I first came to the club, one of the first songs I got to know was the one that our fans sing for Diogo. I had not worked with him previously but I knew straight away that if the Liverpool supporters, who have seen so many great players over the years, had such a unique chant for Diogo, he must have special qualities.
"That we have lost those qualities in such terrible circumstances is something we have not yet come to terms with. For this reason, we need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves.
"My condolences go to Diogo's wife, Rute, their three beautiful children and to the parents of Diogo and Andre Silva.
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"When the time is right, 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 human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten.
"His name is Diogo."
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Portugal release touching Diogo Jota tribute video after the Liverpool star's death at 28
Portugal released a moving tribute video after Diogo Jota 's death, which included highlights of his career and moments off the pitch with the national team. Jota, 28, and his brother Andre, 26 - also a footballer, who played for Portuguese second division side Penafiel - both died on Thursday following a tragic car crash in Spain. His Lamborghini Huracan had a tyre blow out while he attempted to overtake another vehicle on the A-52 at Cernadilla near Zamora - just ten miles over the border from Portugal. The football world have joined together in paying their respects to the Liverpool star, whose funeral was held in his hometown Gomorah in Portugal on Saturday morning. The national team shared a video across their social media accounts, captioned: 'You will always be remembered. Rest in peace, Diogo Jota.' It culminated with a clip of Jota lifting the UEFA Nations League trophy, which he won with Portugal against Spain last month. Serás para sempre recordado. Descansa em paz, Diogo Jota. 🤍 You will always be remembered. Rest in peace, Diogo Jota. 🤍 — Portugal (@selecaoportugal) July 5, 2025 After making his senior debut for Portugal in 2019, Jota made 49 appearances for his country, scoring 14 goals. The details of Jota's crash have been thoroughly documented in its aftermath. Jota's car is said to have rolled and burst into flames, with emergency services unable to save him and his brother. No other vehicles were involved, police said. The siblings were heading to Santander to catch a ferry to Britain after Diogo was advised not to fly following lung surgery, it was reported in his home country. Emergency services in the Castilla and Leon region confirmed the crash and two fatalities at around 12.35am on Thursday. Diogo and Andre's deaths were then confirmed by the Portuguese Football Federation at around 8am. Jota's death sent shockwaves through the footballing world and fans have gathered in their hundreds to lay and offer their condolences. Tributes from all over have poured in since Jota's tragic accident, with the sport's biggest names - such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - leading the testimonials. The tragedy came just days after Jota married his new wife Rute Cardoso - who he shares three young children with - on June 22. On Friday, hundreds of mourners lined the streets of Gondomar to pay their final respects to Jota at the city's chapel. Fans snaked around the Portuguese principality as the tearful crowd queued to honour the Premier League hero before his funeral. Mourners sobbed and carried roses and national team scarves in homage to Jota, who won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal less than a month ago. Aerial footage showed queues stretching from the small chapel, around the corner to the nearby church where his funeral will be held. Jota's heartbroken wife and parents gathered at a wake and held a vigil at the coffins of the former Wolves striker and his brother Andre. The town overlooking Porto is where the couple met and started dating as teenagers. They married two weeks ago and have three young children. Diogo and Andre's mother Isabel, father Joaquim and their grandfather were emotional on arriving at the chapel. Joaquim hugged several people and was supported by his brother and later raised a hand to mourners as he left with his wife. They returned around an hour later. Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro also attended the wake along with Jota's agent Jorge Mendes. The President of Portugal, Marcelo de Sousa, came later. The wake got underway on Friday afternoon ahead of funeral mass in the neighbouring church - the Igrega Matriz de Gondomar - at 10am on Saturday. Many big names attended Jota's funeral, including some of his Portugal team-mates and the Liverpool squad. 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