Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot has paid tribute to Diogo Jota, calling the 28-year-old “particular”, following the Portuguese ahead’s tragic loss of life.
Jota and his brother Andre Silva, 26, had been killed in a automotive accident within the province of Zamora in north-western Spain at round midnight on Wednesday.
Their automotive got here off the highway following a tyre blowout and caught hearth, with emergency companies unable to avoid wasting them after arriving on the scene.
Jota leaves behind his spouse Rute, who he wed final month, and their three younger kids.
Liverpool Soccer Membership are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 3, 2025
Slot, who took cost at Anfield in the summertime of 2024, managed Jota for a season as Liverpool raced to the Premier League title in emphatic trend final time period.
“I want I had the phrases however I do know I don’t,” Slot stated in an announcement.
“My first ideas are usually not these of a soccer supervisor. They’re of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and so they belong to the household of Diogo and Andre Silva who’ve skilled such an unimaginable loss.
“My message to them could be very clear – you’ll by no means stroll alone. The gamers, the workers, the supporters of Liverpool Soccer Membership are all with you and from what I’ve seen at this time, the identical may be stated of the broader household of soccer.
“For us as a membership, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not simply our participant. He was a beloved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of these roles he was very particular.”
Arne Slot assertion:
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 3, 2025
The Liverpool boss’ phrases come after an outpouring of emotional tributes. A “heartbroken” Jurgen Klopp, the previous Liverpool head coach who introduced Jota to the membership from Wolves in 2020, stated he “was not solely a implausible participant, but in addition an awesome buddy, a loving and caring husband and father.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota’s Portugal teammate stated “we’ll all miss you” in a social media put up, whereas followers gathered at Anfield to pay their respects.
The flag on Liverpool city corridor was lowered to half mast as a mark of respect for Jota and his brother.
Slot hailed Jota’s work ethic, humility and high quality as “the essence of what a Liverpool participant ought to be.”
He stated: “There have been additionally the components that not everybody bought to see. The one that by no means sought reputation however discovered it anyway.
“Not a buddy to 2 folks, a buddy to everybody. Somebody who made others be ok with themselves simply by being with them. An individual who cared deeply for his household.”
The Dutch coach revealed that the final time he spoke to Jota was to congratulate him on Portugal’s Nations League triumph in June and need him luck for his marriage ceremony.
“In some ways, it was a dream summer time for Diogo and his household, which makes it all of the extra heartbreaking that it ought to finish like this.
“Once I first got here to the membership, one of many first songs I bought to know was the one which our followers sing for Diogo. I had not labored with him beforehand however I knew immediately that if the Liverpool supporters, who’ve seen so many nice gamers through the years, had such a novel chant for Diogo, he will need to have particular qualities.
“That we now have misplaced these qualities in such horrible circumstances is one thing we now have not but come to phrases with.
“Because of this, we’d like everybody on the membership to face collectively and to be there for each other. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider household and to ourselves.
“My condolences go to Diogo’s spouse, Rute, their three lovely kids and to the mother and father of Diogo and Andre Silva.
“When the time is true, we’ll have a good time Diogo Jota, we’ll bear in mind his targets and we’ll sing his tune. In the interim, we’ll bear in mind him as a novel human being and mourn his loss. He won’t ever be forgotten.
“His identify is Diogo.”
