Diogo Jota 'will never be forgotten', says heartbroken Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Photo:
AFP / Paul Ellis
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said Diogo Jota will be remembered as a "friend to everyone" after the
Portuguese international died in a car crash
on Thursday.
The 28-year-old died alongside his younger brother Andre after their vehicle veered off a motorway in northern Spain before bursting into flames.
Jota struck 65 times in 182 appearances since joining the Reds in 2020 and helped Liverpool win the Premier League in Slot's first season in charge earlier this year.
"When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song," Slot said in a statement.
"For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten."
Diego Jota
Photo:
AFP
Jota wed his long-time partner and mother of his three children, Rute Cardoso, less than two weeks ago.
"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," added Slot.
"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."
Liverpool scarves are seen beside flowers left at a memorial set up close to Anfield football ground for their Portuguese forward Diogo Jota in Liverpool, north-west England July 3, 2025.
Photo:
AFP / Paul Barker
Jota, who was capped 49 times by his country, was a popular figure among the Liverpool support, who laid hundreds of bouquets of flowers, shirts and flags in tribute at the club's Anfield Stadium.
"I could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it," Slot said.
"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."
-AFP
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1News
10 hours ago
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Family of Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother gather for wake
Family and friends of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother gathered at a chapel where their bodies were brought for a wake on Friday, a day after the Portuguese soccer players were killed in a car crash. Some hugged and wept before entering the Capela da Ressurreição São Cosme. The brothers' parents attended, as well as Jota's agent, Jorge Mendes. Mourners left flowers and candles next to a tree outside the chapel where visitation was held. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also visited to pay his respects. The chapel sits next to the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar church where the funeral for the siblings is planned for Saturday. Joaquim, centre, father of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother, is embraced at a church where their bodies have been brought for a wake and funeral (Source: Associated Press) ADVERTISEMENT Gondomar resident Ricardo Alves lamented the loss of the local star as he passed by. "It is a great sadness. Although I did not know him personally he was from here and I knew many of his friends from the region where he lived," Alves said. "It is a great loss, he is a young man, with a lot still to give and he had a somewhat tragic fate." Jota, 28, and his brother, André Silva, 25, were found dead near Zamora in northwestern Spain after the Lamborghini they were driving crashed on an isolated stretch of highway just after midnight on Thursday and burst into flames. Their bodies were repatriated to Portugal after being identified by the family, Spanish government officials said. Jota and his parents both have homes in Gondomar, where he started his playing career as a child. Gondomar is a working-class town next to Porto, where Jota was born. People gather at the church where the bodies of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and André Silva have been brought for a wake and funeral in Gondomar, near Porto. (Source: Associated Press) Jota's death occurred two weeks after he married long-time partner Rute Cardoso while on vacation from a long season where he helped Liverpool win the Premier League. The couple had three children, the youngest born last year. ADVERTISEMENT Spanish police are investigating the cause of the crash, which did not involve another vehicle, they said. They said they believe it could have been caused by a blown tire. Jota's brother Silva played for Portuguese club Penafiel in the lower divisions. The loss was felt sharply in his hometown, especially at his first soccer club, where Jota started playing at age 9. "He never forgot his roots, nor his friends, because he had a group of friends who were with him in the training here in Gondomar and who he even invited from time to time to go and watch Liverpool games in England," Gondomar SC director Anselmo Serra told The Associated Press. "They were like a group of friends that he never forgot over the years." Liverpool's Diogo Jota celebrates scoring during the Premier League match at Carrow Road, Norwich in 2021. (Source: Associated Press) Heading to England via boat Jota and his brother were driving overnight to catch a boat from Santander, on Spain's northern coast, to go to England to rejoin Liverpool, when they crashed, according to Portuguese media. ADVERTISEMENT Portuguese sports website Record published a video interview with Miguel Gonçalves, who said he worked as a physical therapist for Jota. Gonçalves told Record that Jota was avoiding flying due to a lung condition that he recently treated. "I was in his house at night for a last treatment," Gonçalves said. "He was proud to have recovered from his pulmonary problem. He was happy to be with his brother. They were excited to spend some time together on the trip." Spanish police have yet to say which brother was driving. Liverpool mourns Jota Condolences poured in from Portuguese officials and the world of soccer as news of the accident spread. A moment of silence was held before Portugal played Spain at the Women's European Championship in Switzerland late Thursday. For a second day, Liverpool fans laid flowers and scarves outside Anfield Stadium. Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was among those to place a bouquet at the impromptu memorial to Jota. ADVERTISEMENT Liverpool supporters wearing shirts in memory of Diogo Jota at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool. (Source: Associated Press) Liverpool's players are not due back from their summer break until Monday. Mohamed Salah wrote on social media that it will be hard to return to the team without Jota. "Teammates come and go but not like this. It's going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won't be there when we go back," Salah wrote. "My thoughts are with his wife, his children, and of course his parents who suddenly lost their children. Those close to Diogo and his brother Andre need all the support they can get. They will never be forgotten."
RNZ News
15 hours ago
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Liverpool's Jota mourned by family and local people at hometown wake
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Liverpool star Diogo Jota killed in car accident in Spain
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Police were looking into the hypothesis that the accident happened because of a blown tire while they tried to overtake another vehicle. ADVERTISEMENT The site of the car accident in which Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother died in the north-western city of Zamora, Spain. (Source: Associated Press) The crash occurred while Jota and Silva, who is also a Portuguese soccer player, were traveling eastward along an isolated stretch of highway about an hour west of Zamora. Diogo Jota dies just days after marrying childhood sweetheart: TVNZ+ Video images of the aftermath published by Spanish media showed braking tire marks veering off the road toward torn-apart guardrails. The burnt-up car was seen several metres ahead, with some of the vegetation around it destroyed by the fire. The site of the car accident in which Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother died in the north-western city of Zamora, Spain. (Source: Associated Press) Jota was taking his summer break from soccer after having helped Portugal win the Nations League. That June 8 final against Spain in Munich was his last match. Liverpool's players are due back to start training for next season on Monday. But Jota's participation in the Nations League could have earned him some extra time off before being called back to Liverpool. ADVERTISEMENT Liverpool said the club was "devastated by the tragic passing". "Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre's family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support." Football fans leave tributes in memory of Liverpool player Diogo Jota at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool FC in Liverpool. (Source: Associated Press) Liverpool fans gathered to place flowers and team scarves outside Anfield Stadium to mourn Jota's passing when news of his death spread. Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and won three major trophies with the Merseyside club. Jota was a clinical finisher, scoring 65 goals in 182 games for the Reds. His last goal for the club was the winner in the Merseyside derby against Everton in April, which moved the team closer to the league title. His brother Silva played with Portuguese club Penafiel in the lower divisions. ADVERTISEMENT Portugal mourns loss of brothers Portugal's Prime Minister Luís Montenegro commented on the "unexpected and tragic" deaths. He said Jota was "an athlete who greatly honoured Portugal's name". "I extend my deepest condolences to their family," he said. "It is a sad day for soccer and for national and international sports". Born in Porto in 1996, Jota made his professional debut with Portuguese club Paços de Ferreira. The Portuguese soccer federation released a statement lamenting the deaths. Federation president Pedro Proença said Portuguese soccer was "completely devastated". People arrive to leave tributes in memory of Liverpool player Diogo Jota at Anfield Stadium, home of FC Liverpool in Liverpool. (Source: Associated Press) "More than a fantastic player, with almost 50 appearances for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all his colleagues and opponents. He had a contagious joy and was a reference in his community," Proença said in the statement. ADVERTISEMENT The Portuguese federation said it has requested a minute of silence before Thursday's match between Portugal and Spain at the Women's European Championship being played in Switzerland. "We lost two champions," Proença said. "Their deaths represent an irreparable loss for Portuguese soccer and we will all do our best to honour their legacy daily." Sports world reacts Reaction also started pouring in from across the world, including from non-soccer players such as NBA star Lebron James — a minority owner at Liverpool — and tennis legend Rafael Nadal. "It doesn't make any sense," Jota's Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo said. 'Just now we were together in the national team, just now you had gotten married. My condolences to your family, to your wife and to your children. I wish them all the strength in the world. I know that you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.' Former club Porto and former teammates lamented the deaths and sent condolences, as did other clubs, federations and leagues. The Premier League said it was "shocked and devastated". "Our sincerest condolences go to Diogo's family, friends, Liverpool FC, and all their supporters at this heart-breaking time," it said. "Football has lost a champion who will be forever missed. We will continue to support our friends and colleagues at the club." UEFA said its thoughts were with relatives, friends and teammates affected "by this heartbreaking loss". It said a moment of silence will be observed at Euro 2025 matches on Thursday and Friday.
