Jota loved so much more than football - this is such a heartbreaking tragedy

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Diogo Jota was a man who loved so much more than football. Football was a part of his life. Something he was very good at and deservedly won major honours in.
A Premier League winner, a player who lifted the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup, a Championship trophy and two Nations League titles. Jota loved football but he loved life outside of the sport, too.
A husband and father to three beautiful children just last week. His wife, Rute Cardoso, who he married just under two weeks ago, will be suffering more than anyone. But she can take comfort from just how adored her husband was, not just as a footballer but also as a person.
Jota was a quiet character when it came to media duties. Sometimes he would need to be encouraged to speak and, when he did, he would be shy and reserved but always willing to respond to questions.
A year ago, on Liverpool's pre-season tour of America, he wanted to speak. He addressed his previous injury problems, his admiration for Jurgen Klopp and his eagerness to impress Arne Slot.
Jota would do that during pre-season and the start of the new era under the Dutchman, only for injury problems to return.
As ever, Jota worked tirelessly on his own time to ensure he could return to fitness as quickly as possible. It was a tough injury. It was another awkward muscle problem that just wouldn't heal seamlessly.
Yet Jota tried everything to get fit. And he would, returning to help Liverpool over the line in their pursuit of Liverpool's 20th title and his first in the top-tier.
Those who knew him well would argue his determination to regain fitness was not just to help the club but also to help his people and others around him. That's the type of man Jota was. He had his own battles but he cared more about others.
He had a passion for Esports, ran teams and played himself. Something of a distraction from the pressures of the real thing. He even won the inaugural ePremier League tournament in 2020.
He grew up in Gondomar, northern Portugal, and his parents Joaquim and Isabel were still paying for him to play for the local club until the age of 16.
Speaking about his youth he said: 'This hunger has been with me ever since I can remember. In my youth, growing up, I never played for the big teams. I think when we are young we always believe. But I probably did not believe that I could reach Liverpool.'
He achieved his dream in 2020, moving from Wolves in a £41million transfer. It was a deal which came out of nowhere.
Jota had impressed with Wolves in the Championship and Premier League, but it was Liverpool who swooped to pick him up.
He was a key part of Liverpool's quadruple chase in 2022 and won the FA Cup and League Cup but they fell short in the Premier League and European cup under Jurgen Klopp. With the arrival of Slot, the Dutchman was hoping there would be some stability in attack.
Jota started the season up front and impressed in a hybrid role under Slot before injury shortened his season again. But he returned later in the campaign to help the Reds close out the season. His six goals and four assists played their part in the Reds lifting their 20th league title.
He told the Liverpool official website last month: 'It is a remarkable achievement for a small guy that came from Gondomar, where I had this dream. To arrive at this moment was outstanding.'
Jota got his hands on a Premier League trophy before helping Portugal to their second Nations League crown a month later. He seemed primed to be part of Liverpool's title defence, Champions League chase and Portugal's bid for the World Cup next summer.
But football would lose a fine footballer in such tragic circumstances. Even more tragically, the Jota family lost a son, a husband, and dad in a horrific car crash which also claimed the life of his brother Andre.
A heartbreaking tragedy for football but much more so for his loved ones.