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Liverpool retire Diogo Jota No.20 shirt in forever tribute after tragic death
The Anfield club have made the unprecedented poignant gesture after consultation with Diogo Jota's widow following his tragic death in a horror car crash
Liverpool will retire the squad number 20 in honour of Diogo Jota after his tragic death in a horror car crash.
It will the be the first time the Reds have made such a gesture in the club's history and means the number will forever be the Portuguese forward's.
Jota, 28, was killed instantly in the crash in Spain last week as he made his way back to the UK for pre-season training with his team-mates.
His brother, Andre Silva, also died when the 200mph Lamborghini supercar they were travelling in crashed and caught fire, causing shock and grief around the footballing world.
Diogo was reportedly heading to catch a ferry to the UK after medics told him it was too risky to fly following a recent operation.
The significant gesture will see the shirt number retired at all levels of the club, including the men’s senior side, women’s, U21s and academy level.
The Anfield club said it made the decision after consultation with Diogo’s widow Rute, who married the star just 11 days before he died.
They believe the unprecedented move is the right thing to do not only for his contribution as a player but the impact he made on everyone at the club including his team-mates, staff and supporters.
Michael Edwards, CEO of football at owners Fenway Sports Group, said: “As a club, we were all acutely aware of the sentiment of our supporters – and we felt exactly the same way.
“It was vitally important to us to involve Diogo’s wife, Rute, and his family in the decision and to ensure they were the first to know of our intention.
“I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club’s history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person. By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal – and therefore never to be forgotten.
"Diogo joined us in 2020, he won us number 20, and he wore – with honour, distinction and affection – the number 20. As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will be forever our number 20.”
Jota won the Premier League, FA Cup and two League Cups after he joined from Wolves in 2020. He had previously helped Wolves to the Championship title in 2018. At international level, he won two Nations Leagues with his country.
Liverpool’s first-team squad visited Anfield on Friday and laid roses at the tribute site outside of the ground in honour of the star. The club will also pay tribute to Jota on Sunday ahead of their friendly against Preston at Deepdale when the Reds will take to the pitch for the first time since their Portuguese forward died.
Liverpool players returned to pre-season training this week as they prepare for the new campaign. The Reds statement said: “Ahead of the 3pm BST kick-off, there will be a rendition of LFC anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone and the home club will lay a wreath alongside the away supporters.
“A minute’s silence will be observed in Diogo and Andre’s memory and digital tributes will be displayed on the screen and across pitchside LEDs.
“Both sets of players will wear black armbands. Preston have also created a commemorative edition of the matchday programme that features written tributes to Diogo and Andre.”
Preston have made the programme free and will distribute copies to all supporters in attendance. A club statement said: "Supporters are kindly asked to be in their seats by 2.45pm on matchday as a mark of respect to the late brothers, who continue to be mourned by Liverpool FC and the football community as a whole.
"At approximately 2.50pm, the pre-match tribute will begin as Claudia Rose Maguire – wife of former PNE player Sean – will sing a rendition of Can’t Help Falling In Love, followed by Liverpool’s anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone.
"As the latter is being performed, Ben Whiteman will lay a wreath in front of the visiting supporters in the Bill Shankly Kop, ahead of a minute’s silence just before kick-off when digital tributes will be displayed on the big screen and across LEDs. Both sets of players will wear black armbands.
"The club are also offering a free 16-page matchday programme, dedicated to Diogo and Andre, to all supporters with a match ticket on the day. There will be multiple members of staff around the ground handing out the programmes, so please take a copy on your way into the stadium." The game will be televised on ITV1.
Daily Star Sunday
The Anfield club have made the unprecedented poignant gesture after consultation with Diogo Jota's widow following his tragic death in a horror car crash
Liverpool will retire the squad number 20 in honour of Diogo Jota after his tragic death in a horror car crash.
It will the be the first time the Reds have made such a gesture in the club's history and means the number will forever be the Portuguese forward's.
Jota, 28, was killed instantly in the crash in Spain last week as he made his way back to the UK for pre-season training with his team-mates.
His brother, Andre Silva, also died when the 200mph Lamborghini supercar they were travelling in crashed and caught fire, causing shock and grief around the footballing world.
Diogo was reportedly heading to catch a ferry to the UK after medics told him it was too risky to fly following a recent operation.
The significant gesture will see the shirt number retired at all levels of the club, including the men’s senior side, women’s, U21s and academy level.
The Anfield club said it made the decision after consultation with Diogo’s widow Rute, who married the star just 11 days before he died.
They believe the unprecedented move is the right thing to do not only for his contribution as a player but the impact he made on everyone at the club including his team-mates, staff and supporters.
Michael Edwards, CEO of football at owners Fenway Sports Group, said: “As a club, we were all acutely aware of the sentiment of our supporters – and we felt exactly the same way.
“It was vitally important to us to involve Diogo’s wife, Rute, and his family in the decision and to ensure they were the first to know of our intention.
“I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club’s history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person. By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal – and therefore never to be forgotten.
"Diogo joined us in 2020, he won us number 20, and he wore – with honour, distinction and affection – the number 20. As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will be forever our number 20.”
Jota won the Premier League, FA Cup and two League Cups after he joined from Wolves in 2020. He had previously helped Wolves to the Championship title in 2018. At international level, he won two Nations Leagues with his country.
Liverpool’s first-team squad visited Anfield on Friday and laid roses at the tribute site outside of the ground in honour of the star. The club will also pay tribute to Jota on Sunday ahead of their friendly against Preston at Deepdale when the Reds will take to the pitch for the first time since their Portuguese forward died.
Liverpool players returned to pre-season training this week as they prepare for the new campaign. The Reds statement said: “Ahead of the 3pm BST kick-off, there will be a rendition of LFC anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone and the home club will lay a wreath alongside the away supporters.
“A minute’s silence will be observed in Diogo and Andre’s memory and digital tributes will be displayed on the screen and across pitchside LEDs.
“Both sets of players will wear black armbands. Preston have also created a commemorative edition of the matchday programme that features written tributes to Diogo and Andre.”
Preston have made the programme free and will distribute copies to all supporters in attendance. A club statement said: "Supporters are kindly asked to be in their seats by 2.45pm on matchday as a mark of respect to the late brothers, who continue to be mourned by Liverpool FC and the football community as a whole.
"At approximately 2.50pm, the pre-match tribute will begin as Claudia Rose Maguire – wife of former PNE player Sean – will sing a rendition of Can’t Help Falling In Love, followed by Liverpool’s anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone.
"As the latter is being performed, Ben Whiteman will lay a wreath in front of the visiting supporters in the Bill Shankly Kop, ahead of a minute’s silence just before kick-off when digital tributes will be displayed on the big screen and across LEDs. Both sets of players will wear black armbands.
"The club are also offering a free 16-page matchday programme, dedicated to Diogo and Andre, to all supporters with a match ticket on the day. There will be multiple members of staff around the ground handing out the programmes, so please take a copy on your way into the stadium." The game will be televised on ITV1.
Daily Star Sunday