Mourners to gather on Friday for Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota's wake in Portugal
The Portuguese forward died alongside his brother, Andre Silva, in a car crash in Spain on Thursday
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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.
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RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Liverpool prepare for emotional farewell at Diogo Jota funeral
Liverpool are preparing to bid an emotional farewell to Diogo Jota at the forward's funeral in Portugal on Saturday. The club, as well as fans and football as a whole, are in mourning after the 28-year-old Portugal international and his brother Andre Silva were killed in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday. Republic of Ireland international Caoimhín Kelleher, who forged a close friendship with the Portuguese star at Liverpool and attended his wedding last month, was among those to pay tribute online. Mohamed Salah, one of the last players to share his grief on social media, admitted he was dreading returning to the club in the wake of Jota's shock death. Some players were due back on Friday to begin the preliminaries of pre-season testing but the first tranche of a phased return was postponed as everyone at the club continues to try to come to terms with the tragedy. "I am truly lost for words. Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break," Salah wrote on social media. "Team-mates 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. "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." It is believed a flight to Portugal has been chartered by the club. Reports in Portugal say the players, most of whom are still on summer holiday, are expected to attend but Liverpool have yet to confirm arrangements. Mourners gathered at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, ahead of the brothers' funeral at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme at 10am on Saturday. Initially held in private for family – Jota leaves a newly-married wife Rute and three young children – it was later opened up to the public with hundreds queuing around the 17th-century church. Nottingham Forest's Jota Silva, born in Gondomar, and Jota's former Wolves and Portugal team-mate Joao Moutinho were among those to attend the chapel, with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation Pedro Proenca and Porto president Andre Villas-Boas also visiting. The country's president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and prime minister Luis Montenegro both attended in person, while members of the Portuguese parliament paid tribute to the two brothers. At Anfield, where a temporary shrine has built up, thousands have left flowers, shirts, scarves and cards. A tearful former Liverpool captain and team-mate Jordan Henderson was among those present on Friday, laying flowers and taking a moment to read some of the tributes after signing a book of condolence available in the Anfield Road stand. "Jots it was a pleasure to share a pitch with you but more importantly a friendship. All the laughs we had off the pitch and trying to find ways to wind milly (James Milner) up and get him fined, which we never could," the England midfielder wrote on Instagram. "Taking pictures of me asleep on the bus travelling then sending them to me later. You always wanted to have a laugh and were a pleasure to be around. "I know how much Rute and your family meant to you and I know you will always be looking down on them. Thank you for everything you brought into this world, we will all miss you." An Everton delegation comprising Portugal-born strikers Beto and Youssef Chermiti and former midfielder Ian Snodin also attended Anfield to pay their respects and lay wreaths.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Diogo Jota's final phone call before tragic death as details emerge
The football world is reeling from the devastating news of Diogo Jota's untimely passing. The 28 year old Liverpool and Portugal star tragically lost his life in a horrific car accident in Spain. Jota, who had recently tied the knot with his long-time love Rute Cardoso, was involved in a fatal crash when the Lamborghini he was in with his brother Andre Silva, aged 25, suffered a tyre blowout and burst into flames after hitting the roadside in Zamora province. The brothers were en route to Santander port to board a ferry to England, following medical advice against flying due to Jota's recent lung surgery. The loss has sent shockwaves through the sporting community, with an outpouring of grief and tributes for the gifted footballer and father of three. In a poignant revelation, it has emerged that Jota had a phone conversation with Gondomar SC president Alvaro Cerqueira just hours before the tragedy. Jota's football journey began at Gondomar when he was only nine years old. Cerqueira, speaking to Jornal de Noticas, recalled the last call with Jota, noting that he was experiencing joyous times. "It was just after 10pm last night [Thursday], we were on the phone and he was fine," Cerqueira shared with JN, reports the Manchester Evening News. "We spoke almost every week, and I know he was going through a happy moment. When Diogo needed to train during the off-season, he would ask to come here, and we would always make everything available." His brother would typically accompany him, and they would both train together. At this difficult time, it's hard to put into words, but what will endure is the memory of two incredibly humble individuals who have left a tremendous void. Gondomar, situated near the Portuguese city of Porto, held a special significance for the Premier League winner, as it was where he tied the knot with the love of his life on June 22. The funeral for him and his brother is scheduled for 10 am on Saturday morning. A wake will take place at Sao Cosme Chapel, followed by a funeral service at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar. Jurgen Klopp, who brought him to Liverpool in 2020, and his international teammate Cristiano Ronaldo were among those paying tributes. On X, Ronaldo expressed his grief: "It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you had got 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'll always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We'll all miss you."
The 42
6 hours ago
- The 42
Liverpool postpone pre-season return following death of forward Diogo Jota
LIVERPOOL HAVE CANCELLED the phased return of players for pre-season training as they continue to mourn the death of forward Diogo Jota. The first group of Arne Slot's squad were scheduled to attend the club's Axa training complex on Friday for the opening round of physical tests after their summer break. However, the PA news agency understands that has been postponed as the club deals with the aftermath of the shocking tragedy which saw 28-year-old Jota and his brother Andre Silva killed in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday. Mourners gathered at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, ahead of the brothers' funeral at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme at 10am on Saturday. Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez said the country had lost 'one of its heroes'. Advertisement 'We feel the family's pain and, in this tragedy, we question life in general,' he said in a video released by the Portuguese Football Federation. 'We have created a family in the national team that goes far beyond football and Diogo is an important part of that – on and off the field. 'Portugal will miss one of its heroes.' Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said everyone associated with the club owed it to Jota to 'stand together and be there for one another'. 'For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a team-mate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special. 'We need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves.' Jota's team-mates have spoken of the struggle to comprehend his death, with captain Virgil van Dijk writing on Instagram he was 'absolutely devastated and in total disbelief'. 'What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man,' he added. '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. Andy Robertson, who attended Jota's wedding to long-term partner Rute Cardoso less than a fortnight ago, posted: '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.' '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. Fans continue to leave flowers, scarves and shirts at a makeshift shrine outside Anfield and there are similar scenes at Wolves' Molineux Stadium, where he spent three years before his move to Liverpool.
