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Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Liverpool legend Ian Rush reveals tragic reason why he had to miss Diogo Jota's funeral despite being invited
Liverpool icon Ian Rush has opened up on why he wasn't able to attend Diogo Jota 's funeral last week following the tragic death of the Liverpool star. Jota, 28, was laid to rest at Gondomar cemetery in Portugal on Saturday after he and his brother, Andre Silva, 25, were killed when their car crashed in the early hours of Thursday morning in northern Spain. The accident came just 11 days after Jota had married childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso, also 28, who is the mother of his two sons Dinis, four, and Duarte, two as well as his baby daughter Mafalda, who is just eight months old. The devastating news has left the footballing world in shock and several stars were present at Jota and his brother's funeral on Saturday. This included the Liverpool team, Reds boss Arne Slot and many of Jota's Portuguese team-mates, such as Ruben Neves, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva. However, Ian Rush, Liverpool's all-time leading goalscorer and arguably the club's greatest ever player, was unable to attend and the Welshman has revealed his own tragic reason for this. 'Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre,' Rush's Instagram post began, which was accompanied by a photo of Jota and his brother in Porto kits, along with flowers paying tribute to the Liverpool man. 'At Liverpool we have always regarded ourselves as one big family. Now one of our family has gone, so we all have to join together and help one another. The last few days have shown that. 'I was invited and intended to attend Diogo's funeral, but my brother Gerald had passed away last week, I was in the middle of helping with Gerald's funeral when the news broke about Diogo. It's been an incredibly difficult time, and I just wasn't able to make it. 'He hadn't been well for a while, but like with Diogo, it hasn't really sunk in yet. 'Diogo's wife, Rute, their three wonderful children, his parents, and extended family are enduring an unimaginable loss. This heartbreaking accident claimed both Diogo and his brother, André Silva. We grieve deeply for them both.' Rush, who is a Liverpool ambassador and is regularly seen at games and club engagements, then went on to pay a touching tribute to Jota. 'Diogo was a great player,' he continued. 'Probably the best natural finisher at the club. He always gave 100 percent. He would make a difference whether he started or came on as a substitute. He would never dominate the headlines and that was the same off the pitch. 'He was a real down to earth person, a real gent. He just got on with things. He will be sadly missed for the special person he was as much as for what he did on a football field for Liverpool and Portugal.' Several fans and former players sent their well wishes to Rush and praised his touching tribute Rush also touched upon the grief the Liverpool squad would be experiencing and the challenges they will face when returning to pre-season training and preparing for the new campaign. He then concluded his heartfelt post by saying: 'Diogo will never be forgotten because he has embraced everything Liverpool. 'Our lad from Portugal. Forever.' Meanwhile, after Rush had revealed the news of his brother's passing when explaining his absence, several fans and former Liverpool players were quick to send their well wishes to the 63-year-old, while also praising the Welshman's Jota tribute. This included Robbie Fowler, who said: 'Sorry to hear that news of your brother Tosh... sending you and the family lots of love,' while Robbie Keane added a broken heart and prayer emoji. One supporter then said: 'Beautiful words Ian. My thoughts are with you and your family on this of your brother. YNWA,' as another added: 'A touching tribute. So sorry for your loss.'
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ian Rush Pays Emotional Tribute to Jota Amid Heartbreaking Double Loss
Club Legend Ian Rush Reflects on Tragedy Liverpool icon Ian Rush has expressed his deep sorrow following the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva. The pair were killed in a car accident in the early hours of Thursday morning, leaving the football world in mourning. Rush, Liverpool's all-time leading goalscorer, spoke emotionally about the loss, comparing the grief to past tragedies that have tested the unity of the club. Advertisement Despite being invited to Jota's funeral in Gondomar, Portugal, Rush was unable to attend due to the passing of his own brother, Gerald. He admitted that juggling his own family loss while processing the death of Jota had been overwhelming. 'It hasn't really hit home yet,' he said. 'Diogo was a great player—probably the best finisher at the club—and more importantly, a wonderful person.' Mourning a Team-Mate and Friend The Liverpool squad flew to Portugal to pay their respects in person, with players and staff attending Jota's funeral. The sight of so many current and former Reds gathered in Gondomar captured the strength of Liverpool's sense of family—an ethos long spoken about by players past and present. Rush, reflecting on the emotional toll, added: 'At Liverpool, we've always seen ourselves as one big family. When one of us goes, we rally around. That's what we've always done, and that's what we'll do now.' Advertisement He drew parallels with the unity shown in the aftermath of Hillsborough—an enduring moment in the club's history—and highlighted how the Liverpool community instinctively comes together in the face of grief. 'It doesn't matter whether you're a player or a supporter—we all stick together,' he said. Jota's Legacy Beyond the Pitch Jota's impact at Liverpool was clear, not just in his goals and performances but in the way he carried himself. Rush was unequivocal in his praise: 'He always gave 100 percent. He could change a game whether he started or came off the bench. He never craved headlines, and that was just as true off the pitch.' Described as a 'real gent' by those who knew him, Jota was someone who earned respect quietly. His work ethic, humility, and professionalism left a mark on the dressing room, making his death all the more difficult for those preparing to return for pre-season. Advertisement 'It's hard to just get back to training and act like everything is normal,' Rush said. 'Footballers are human too. For some, it'll take time for the full weight of this tragedy to be felt.' Pain Shared Across the Liverpool Family As the days go on, the Liverpool squad—alongside staff, fans, and club legends—will try to process the loss of a team-mate, a brother, and a friend. Rush believes that while grief often comes in waves, the bond between those in the Liverpool family will be the difference in helping people heal. 'You try to move on, but it's not easy,' he concluded. 'Diogo will never be forgotten. He truly embodied everything Liverpool stands for.' Advertisement This tragedy has shaken Liverpool to its core, but in the spirit of solidarity that defines the club, the memory of Diogo Jota will continue to inspire those who wear the shirt he once wore with pride.
Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
‘Diogo will live in perpetuity now' - sense of grief at Anfield will not subside for years
The eternal flame at Anfield is a permanent, sobering reminder that for all Liverpool 's triumphs, tragedy has a habit of shadowing the club like the cruellest of imposters. Appropriately and poignantly, it was at the Hillsborough Memorial shortly after 9.30am when the first mourners paid their respects to their idol Diogo Jota, a day which began with supporters praying news of his fatal car accident was a sick social media rumour rapidly turning to one of incomprehension and heartbreak. By mid-afternoon, the expanding collection of bouquets prompted club stewards to relocate tributes, a temporary barrier erected as a steady flow of the sorrowful bowed before an impromptu shrine, yards from a mural immortalising another of Liverpool's great goalscorers, Ian Rush. It is the image of the young Portuguese striker celebrating in front of the Kop that lives in perpetuity now. When processing the grim bulletins from Spain, some immediately spoke of retiring Jota's number 20 jersey. One can imagine they will never allow another Liverpool fixture to pass without chanting his name. The lingering vision of Jota will be that of his final appearance in the stadium in May, joyously accepting the applause as he danced with the Premier League trophy. 'Forever a champion,' read one of the more prominent messages on freshly wrapped flowers. 'No words,' said another, echoing the universal sense of disbelief. The tapestry of colours was not only those of Liverpool's jerseys. Everton, Manchester United and Rangers supporters naturally expressed their solidarity, football tribalism non-existent in the immediate aftermath of trauma. Several Wolverhampton Wanderers fans laid a wreath, Jota having established his Premier League reputation at Molineux, before a Newcastle supporter gifted a half-and-half scarf which had been a cherished souvenir from the recent historic Carabao Cup victory. In such terrible circumstances, the smallest of sacrifices become the grandest of gestures. 'I live in Liverpool, but I have been a Newcastle fan all my life,' explained Frank Chialton, 67. 'It felt right to be here to show respect. He was such a great player.' Others immediately headed to Anfield on behalf of loved ones grieving millions of miles away, the global impact of Jota's death as profound as of any elite sportsman at their peak in living memory. 'I have friends and family in Melbourne who are big Liverpool supporters and they could not believe the news this morning,' said Gail Williams. 'They actually used to live in the houses right here, just across from the Main Stand. They called an hour ago and asked if something could be left on their behalf. None of us can believe what has happened.' The connection between football and spirituality is never so conspicuous than in bereavement, supporters flocking to their place of worship. On a matchday, this particular area of Anfield reverberates with excitable pre-match chatter and clamouring feet scampering towards a turnstile. On Thursday, hundreds of mourners could be seen from a distance, steadily making their way across Stanley Park to join the eerie silence, their steps as heavy as their hearts. After leaving each token of respect, many located a quiet spot for further reflection, some alone, others with partners, sons and daughters, staring into the distance, plenty admitting they were contemplating those deeper questions after such chilling events like 'how?' and 'why?' 'I was working my ambulance shift this morning when I heard the news,' said Paul Gamble, who lives and works around Anfield. 'I was absolutely shocked. Obviously in my line of work you get used to hearing about accidents and such, but - I don't know - when you hear it is a top player. I can't explain, really, but for some reason, you just don't believe it, do you? 'It puts life into perspective. I mean, I don't really want to talk about the football side of Diogo. All I can think about today is his family, his wife, his children. And for his parents to lose two sons in that way. Two young lads. It is just absolutely devastating. 'When someone dies, especially as young as 28, everyone feels it, and because of our love for the club it does feel like we have all lost a member of our family. That's why we all come here. It feels right to come to Anfield today. We all have the same emotions. 'It's a small thing, I know, but we want to be around each other and friends. I laid a scarf for Diogo on behalf of myself and my daughter.' Nearby, a father and son sat looking visibly shaken, the youngster close to tears when asked to share his memories of Jota's numerous match-winning contributions so fundamental to a golden Anfied era. 'I woke up to the news and I could not believe it. I'm trying to process it,' said Matt Tomlinson, 20. 'You can't help but think about life; and the unfairness of it,' said his father, Vinny. 'This was a lad in the prime of his life, just married, and then it has been taken away from him just like that. 'I have been going to the Kop since 1978. This feels like such a personal loss. I know it shouldn't. We think of these young men as remote, highly paid footballers. But there is a collective spirit within a football club, a solidarity between us as supporters and those players we come to love so much. For Diogo to have lost his life this way. It is just wrong, isn't it? 'This club just echoes our life. None of us can escape tragedy in life at some point, can we? We spend our lives seeking out the good times and the successes. But you always know there is sadness around the corner, and we've had to suffer so much of it in our love for this club. 'I wanted to say thank you, as much as anything else. 'That's what our message said: Thank you, Diogo, for everything you did. Because you are a massive contributor to some of the greatest of times for this football club. What you did means so much to us all and it always will.' In the shadow of the Kop end, another poignant message was placed at the feet of the Bill Shankly Statue. 'Rip Diogo Jota. You are not alone,' it read.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Tough as teak... and a ruthless streak'
Throughout Wednesday, the BBC's chief football writer Phil McNulty will rank the hardest men to play for Everton. Drop in through the day to see who he selects and you'll also get the chance to state who should be on the list later. In fourth spot (scroll down the page for who is in fifth)... Advertisement Kevin Ratcliffe Some may be surprised by this choice, perhaps thinking Pat van den Hauwe (see below) might be the more obvious selection from Howard Kendall's great 1980s team, but Everton's most successful captain, who led them to two titles, the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup, was the man you would want alongside you in the heat of any battle. Ratcliffe was an outstanding central defender, whose searing pace was essential to Everton's defensive set-up, as well as having every asset required in the position with his ability to read the game and sense danger. He was also tough as teak and a natural leader. He was willing to let strikers know he was there, as his great friend and Wales team-mate Ian Rush often testifies. Advertisement Ratcliffe was a defender who had everything, including a ruthless streak that made him a winner and captain of a side full of strong characters, such as Peter Reid, Andy Gray and Neville Southall. In a team with plenty of hard men, Ratcliffe - a defender of the highest class – has claims to be the hardest. Come back later on Wednesday to see more of McNulty's selections.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Tough as teak... and a ruthless streak'
Throughout Wednesday, the BBC's chief football writer Phil McNulty will rank the hardest men to play for Everton. Drop in through the day to see who he selects and you'll also get the chance to state who should be on the list fourth spot (scroll down the page for who is in fifth)...Kevin RatcliffeSome may be surprised by this choice, perhaps thinking Pat van den Hauwe (see below) might be the more obvious selection from Howard Kendall's great 1980s team, but Everton's most successful captain, who led them to two titles, the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup, was the man you would want alongside you in the heat of any was an outstanding central defender, whose searing pace was essential to Everton's defensive set-up, as well as having every asset required in the position with his ability to read the game and sense was also tough as teak and a natural leader. He was willing to let strikers know he was there, as his great friend and Wales team-mate Ian Rush often was a defender who had everything, including a ruthless streak that made him a winner and captain of a side full of strong characters, such as Peter Reid, Andy Gray and Neville a team with plenty of hard men, Ratcliffe - a defender of the highest class – has claims to be the back later on Wednesday to see more of McNulty's selections.
