'Everton's enforcer... and courage personified'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
33 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Liverpool players ‘heartbroken' after death of team-mate Diogo Jota in car crash
Liverpool's 'heartbroken' players have spoken of their pain in paying tribute to team-mate Diogo Jota after he was killed in a car crash at the age of 28. The Portugal forward died along with his younger brother Andre Silva in the accident in Zamora in Spain in the early hours of Thursday morning. Less than two weeks ago Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso. The couple have three children together. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Virgil (@virgilvandijk) According to BBC Sport, Jota was returning for pre-season training next week via ferry after being advised not to fly following minor surgery. Reds captain Virgil van Dijk said on Instagram he was 'absolutely devastated and in total disbelief.' The Dutch defender wrote in a post alongside a picture of Jota with the Premier League trophy: 'What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man. 'You meant so much to all of us and you always will! For your family to lose two sons, a husband and a father is just unimaginable. So cruel and unfair. 'My heart is breaking for all of your beautiful family, for Rute and for your kids. I promise you that in these difficult times and beyond we will always be there for your family. 'A champion forever, number 20 forever. It's been a privilege to have stood by your side on the pitch, and to have been your friend off it. 'We will miss you beyond words and never forget you. Your legacy will live on, we will make sure of it! Rest in perfect peace Diogo & Andre.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andrew Robertson (@andyrobertson94) Andy Robertson, one of the players with the longest association with Jota, also paid an emotional tribute. 'The ones I'm thinking about most right now are the family. Their loss is too much to bear. I'm so sorry that they have lost two such precious souls – Diogo and Andre,' he posted on Instagram. 'For the team and the club, we'll try to cope with this together… however long that takes. 'For me, I want to talk about my mate. My buddy. The bloke I loved and will miss like crazy. I could talk about him as a player for hours, but none of that feels like it matters right now. 'It's the man. The person. He was such a good guy. The best. So genuine. Just normal and real. 'Full of love for the people he cared about. Full of fun. He was the most British foreign player I've ever met. 'I can't believe we're saying goodbye. It's too soon, and it hurts so much. But thank you for being in my life, mate – and for making it better.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jürgen Klopp (@kloppo) Reds winger Luis Diaz said: 'It hurts me to the core, not only for what he was on the field, but for what he was off it. ' 'Heartbroken' former manager Jurgen Klopp, for whom his Christian faith has played a big part in his life, wrote on Instagram: 'This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can't see it!' Liverpool, who are supporting Jota's family, have opened a book of condolence, both physical in the Anfield Road Stand and online, lowered flags to half-mast and closed all stores and the museum and suspended all tours until Monday. Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 3, 2025 News of Jota's death has sent shockwaves throughout world football. Wolves, who signed him from Atletico Madrid in 2017 before selling to Liverpool in 2020, probably summed up the player best. 'Diogo embodied our values at the club. He was so humble, so kind, so professional, but yet determined and hungry,' said Matt Wild, director of football operations and administration who worked closely with Jota. 'To go to Liverpool at the age of 23 and go on to great success there, he's won lots of trophies and it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. 'He left this club as a star, and he will always be a star in our eyes.' UEFA announced a moment of silence would be observed at Women's Euro 2025 matches on Thursday and Friday, while the 'devastated' Portuguese Football Federation said: 'Diogo Jota was not only a fantastic player… but also an extraordinary person who was respected by all his team-mates and opponents. 'We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day.' Fans left wreaths, scarves and shirts at a makeshift shrine outside Anfield, with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, attending a conference in Liverpool, among those to lay flowers in person. There were similar scenes outside Molineux. 'He left this club as a star, and he will always be a star in our eyes.' — Wolves (@Wolves) July 3, 2025 Local police, investigating the accident at 1230am on Thursday in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora, said: 'In the absence of a conclusion of the experts' evidence, everything points that a car left the road, due to a tyre blowout while overtaking.' Jota won 49 caps and scored 14 goals for Portugal, last month winning the Nations League for a second time. International team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo wrote on X: 'It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married. 'To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.' Não faz sentido. Ainda agora estávamos juntos na Seleção, ainda agora tinhas casado. À tua familia, à tua mulher e aos teus filhos, envio os meus sentimentos e desejo-lhes toda a força do mundo. Sei que estarás sempre com eles. Descansem em Paz, Diogo e André. Vamos todos sentir… — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) July 3, 2025 Jota scored 65 goals in 182 Liverpool appearances, nine coming last season as Arne Slot's side won the Premier League title, having previously lifted the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. He signed for Wolves, initially on loan, from Atletico Madrid in 2017 and helped win the Championship in his first season, ultimately scoring 44 goals in 131 appearances.
Powys County Times
34 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Mourners to gather for Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota's wake in Portugal
Mourners are set to gather to honour Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, a local parish priest has said. The 28-year-old father of three, who had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso just 11 days ago, died in a car crash in Spain alongside his brother Andre Silva after a Lamborghini they were travelling in veered off the road and burst into flames following a suspected tyre blowout. The pair were found dead following the crash on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday. Jose Manuel Macedo, parish priest at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme, told the PA news agency in a translated message that a wake for the brothers will take place at 8am at the nearby Capela da Ressurreicao before their funeral at the Igreja Matriz on Saturday at 10am. Tributes from the football world and beyond flooded in for the Portuguese forward on Thursday. Liverpool manager Arne Slot said the 'sense of shock is absolute' for the club. 'Diogo was not just our player,' he said. 'He was a loved one to all of us. '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.' Slot said the player 'never sought popularity' but gained it anyway and was a friend to everyone, able to make others feel good about themselves 'just by being with them'. He said the last time they spoke he wished Jota luck for his upcoming 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,' Slot added. He recalled learning, when he first came to the club, of the song Liverpool fans sang for Jota and said he knew 'straight away' that meant the player must have 'special qualities'. 'When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song,' Slot said. 'For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten.' The club has opened physical and digital books of condolence in the wake of the deaths, and supporters and members of the public can go to the Anfield Road Stand reception area over the coming days to sign a message. The online book can be found at Flags have been lowered to half-mast at the stadium and all club stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday, with staff offered wellbeing support. The Portuguese Football Federation also said it was 'devastated' to learn of the deaths, adding: 'Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football.' Police said they were investigating the possibility that the Lamborghini left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking, and a source from the government sub-delegation in Zamora confirmed 'a possible speeding incident' was being looked at. No other vehicles are said to have been involved in the incident. Pictures of the aftermath of the crash showed debris scattered along the side of the road including what appeared to be charred parts of the vehicle. Liverpool fans started leaving tributes outside Anfield on Thursday morning, with flowers being laid with messages including 'Thanks for everything, Diogo'. Jota was part of Liverpool's Premier League-winning side in the 2024/25 campaign, scoring six goals in 26 appearances. He joined the Merseyside club from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, winning three major trophies. Portugal national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo said he wishes Jota's family 'all the strength in the world' following the Liverpool forward's death. A translated version of his message on Instagram said: 'Doesn't make any sense. 'Just now we were together in the national team, just now you were married. 'To your family, to your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. 'I know you will always be with them. R.I.P. Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.' The Prince of Wales, patron of the FA, said he was 'deeply saddened' to hear of Jota's death, adding: 'Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who knew him.' Jota and his wife got together in 2013, it has been reported, and have three children together – two sons and a daughter who was born in November. He frequently shared pictures of himself and his family on his Instagram account, while his wife has posted images of their holidays in Dubai and Lapland. They also have three pet beagles. On Wednesday, Jota and Cardoso, 28, posted video footage of their wedding, with the caption: 'A day we will never forget.'
Daily Mirror
35 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Mourners to gather for Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota's wake after crash
Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva will be remembered at a wake in Portugal this morning, after the Liverpool forward died in a car crash in Spain on Thursday Mourners prepare to pay their respects to Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota, who will be honoured at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, according to a local parish priest. The 28 year old father of three tragically passed away in a car accident in Spain, along with his brother Andre Silva. The devastating incident occurred after the Lamborghini they were in veered off the road and burst into flames, believed to be caused by a tyre blowout. The crash took place on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday. Jose Manuel Macedo, the parish priest at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme, conveyed to PA news agency that the wake for the brothers is scheduled for 8am at the Capela da Ressurreicao, with their funeral to follow on Saturday at 10am at the Igreja Matriz. An outpouring of condolences from the football community and beyond emerged for the Portuguese striker on Thursday. Liverpool's manager Arne Slot expressed the club's profound shock, stating, "Diogo was not just our player,". "He was a loved one to all of us. 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." Slot highlighted that Jota "never sought popularity" yet achieved it regardless, being a friend to all and having the ability to uplift others "just by being with them". He reminisced about the last conversation they had, where he wished Jota well for his forthcoming nuptials. "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," Slot expressed with deep sorrow. Slot remembered being struck by the Liverpool fans' anthem for Jota when he first joined the club, realising "straight away" the player's "special qualities". He said: "When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For now, we grieve for a remarkable individual. He will always be in our hearts." The Portuguese Football Federation shared its devastation over the news, stating: "Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football." Police are probing whether a tyre blowout during an overtaking manoeuvre caused the Lamborghini to veer off the road, while authorities in Zamora are also considering "a possible speeding incident" as part of their investigation. The crash, which did not involve any other vehicles, left a trail of wreckage and burnt vehicle parts strewn along the roadside In the wake of the tragedy, Liverpool supporters began paying their respects at Anfield from Thursday morning, placing flowers and heartfelt notes such as "Thanks for everything, Diogo". Jota was a key figure in Liverpool's Premier League triumph in the 2024/25 season, contributing six goals in 26 matches. Having signed for Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, Jota lifted three major trophies with the club. Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the Portugal national team, extended his deepest sympathies to Jota's family, expressing his wish for them to find "all the strength in the world" after the Liverpool striker's passing. Ronaldo's message on Instagram, translated into English, read: "Doesn't make any sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you were married. To your family, to your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. R.I.P. Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you." The Prince of Wales, who is also the patron of the FA, expressed his deep sorrow over Jota's passing, stating: "Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who knew him." Jota and his wife reportedly became a couple in 2013 and have since welcomed three children into their family – two boys and a girl born last November. The footballer often posted snapshots of his family life on Instagram, while his wife shared glimpses of their holidays in exotic locations like Dubai and Lapland. The family also includes three pet beagles. Just this Wednesday, Jota and Cardoso, aged 28, shared a video from their wedding day, captioning it: "A day we will never forget." Liverpool FC has set up both physical and digital books of condolence following the tragic events, inviting fans and the public to leave their tributes at the Anfield Road Stand reception or online at The club has also lowered flags to half-mast at the stadium and closed all club-related facilities until Monday, providing staff with wellbeing support during this difficult time.
