Conor Coady in Diogo Jota tribute as old Wolves pal celebrates an 'incredible person'
Conor Coady has paid tribute to his "amazing friend" Diogo Jota after his death.
The Liverpool star was killed in a car crash in Spain in the early hours on Thursday morning, along with his brother Andre Silva.
The brothers' funerals will take place today in Porto, wth the current Anfield squad in attendance to say goodbye to their teammate.
Coady, who is expected to join Rangers from Leicester City in the coming days, heard of Jota's death during pre-season training with the Foxes.
The pair were teammates at Wolves, winning the Championship title together in 2017-18 before qualifying for the Europa League after their first season back in the English Premier League.
Coafy admitted the news hit him heard after hearing, but wants to celebrate the life of his friend.
"I think we'll all remember where we were, but it goes bigger than football, what we're all feeling now," Coady told BBC Sport.
"This has hit everybody hard. And it will hit everybody hard for a long, long time because Diogo was a fantastic human being, an amazing friend, an amazing husband, an amazing father and an absolute incredible footballer for all the clubs he has played for.
"He was an unbelievable person. This is celebrating an incredible human being. A human being who should never left us this early and this [early] into an amazing career."
You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
3 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Liverpool squad bid emotional farewell to Diogo Jota at team-mate's funeral
A service for the 28-year-old father-of-three, who married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso almost a fortnight ago, and his brother Andre Silva was held at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar church in their home town of Gondomar, near Porto, following their deaths in a car crash on Thursday. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson each carried a floral tribute in the shape of a red shirt bearing the respective numbers of the two brothers. Head coach Arne Slot and the majority of the squad were present, as were Michael Edwards – the man who signed Jota from Wolves in 2020 when he was sporting director and is now chief executive of football for owners Fenway Sports Group – current sporting director Richard Hughes and head of physiotherapy Lee Nobes, who would have spent many hours with the player during his injury lay-offs. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who was unable to attend his own father's funeral due to Covid restrictions four years ago, is on international duty with Brazil and so could not be present but posted a poignant message on Instagram which read: 'Usually, I post things that make sense, but today, nothing makes sense! 'Once again, an ocean separates me from 'saying goodbye' to someone I love! But I know that I am well represented by my club mates! 'To you, my friend Rute, just know that you will never walk alone, we will be with you as soon as possible!' Many of Jota's former team-mates also attended, including ex-Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who on Friday laid flowers at the makeshift shrine outside Anfield, James Milner, Thiago Alcantara, who signed in the same transfer window as Jota, Caoimhin Kelleher, Fabinho and former Wolves and Portugal team-mate Joao Moutinho. Manchester City's Portuguese duo Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, another international colleague, were also there, while his best friend Ruben Neves was a pallbearer, having flown in from Florida after playing for Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup on Friday night. Jota's former Wolves boss and now Nottingham Forest head coach, Nuno Espirito Santo, also attended. 'I can't even imagine the pain of the family, of Rute, of the children, of the parents,' Silva told Portuguese broadcaster TVI. 'I must talk a little about Jota, who was a great friend to all of us. His career, although not the most important thing, speaks for itself. 'More important than that, as a person, the memories that remain. Jota will remain in our hearts forever. He will always be present at all breakfasts, lunches, dinners, national team gatherings, PlayStation or card games. 'It is a very tough episode for all of us, because we spent a lot of time together. The memories I have with him are fantastic. These happy memories will remain, he will be present in every victory. 'We were rivals and team-mates for many years. He became a great friend. He was present at my wedding. Unfortunately, I wasn't at his, because I was at the Club World Cup. It is a family that will always be with us and that we will try to preserve.' Players from Penafiel, the team for whom Jota's brother played, also attended. A wake was held on Friday for the pair before the coffins were carried into church on Saturday morning followed by mourners, led by Jota's wife and family. After the service, which was broadcast to hundreds standing outside, they were taken to the cemetery next to the church for a private ceremony. A seventh-day mass will be held on Wednesday. Jota's national team manager Roberto Martinez, who was also in attendance, said: 'They are really sad days, as you can imagine, but today we have shown we are a very large, but close family. 'It was essential for us that, (with) Andre Silva and Diogo Jota, we are together and we will always be together and their spirit will be with us forever. 'Thank you very much for your messages, for your support and everything that we have received (from) all over the world. It means a lot and today we are all one football family.' Reports in Portugal say Liverpool have committed to paying out the remainder of Jota's two-year contract to his family. Tributes continue to be left at Anfield, where Everton manager David Moyes and assistant Alan Irvine laid flowers on Saturday with the message: 'With heartfelt sympathy, from David Moyes and everyone at Everton Football Club.' Manchester City-supporting brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher paid their own tribute at Oasis' comeback gig at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Friday night when, during the final bars of Live Forever, a picture of Jota was displayed to cheers and applause.
The Herald Scotland
15 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Liverpool squad bid emotional farewell to Diogo Jota at team-mate's funeral
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson each carried a floral tribute in the shape of a red shirt bearing the respective numbers of the two brothers. Head coach Arne Slot and the majority of the squad were present, as were Michael Edwards – the man who signed Jota from Wolves in 2020 when he was sporting director and is now chief executive of football for owners Fenway Sports Group – current sporting director Richard Hughes and head of physiotherapy Lee Nobes, who would have spent many hours with the player during his injury lay-offs. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who was unable to attend his own father's funeral due to Covid restrictions four years ago, is on international duty with Brazil and so could not be present but posted a poignant message on Instagram which read: 'Usually, I post things that make sense, but today, nothing makes sense! 'Once again, an ocean separates me from 'saying goodbye' to someone I love! But I know that I am well represented by my club mates! 'To you, my friend Rute, just know that you will never walk alone, we will be with you as soon as possible!' Many of Jota's former team-mates also attended, including ex-Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who on Friday laid flowers at the makeshift shrine outside Anfield, James Milner, Thiago Alcantara, who signed in the same transfer window as Jota, Caoimhin Kelleher, Fabinho and former Wolves and Portugal team-mate Joao Moutinho. Manchester City's Portuguese duo Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, another international colleague, were also there, while his best friend Ruben Neves was a pallbearer, having flown in from Florida after playing for Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup on Friday night. Jota's former Wolves boss and now Nottingham Forest head coach, Nuno Espirito Santo, also attended. 'I can't even imagine the pain of the family, of Rute, of the children, of the parents,' Silva told Portuguese broadcaster TVI. 'I must talk a little about Jota, who was a great friend to all of us. His career, although not the most important thing, speaks for itself. 'More important than that, as a person, the memories that remain. Jota will remain in our hearts forever. He will always be present at all breakfasts, lunches, dinners, national team gatherings, PlayStation or card games. 'It is a very tough episode for all of us, because we spent a lot of time together. The memories I have with him are fantastic. These happy memories will remain, he will be present in every victory. 'We were rivals and team-mates for many years. He became a great friend. He was present at my wedding. Unfortunately, I wasn't at his, because I was at the Club World Cup. It is a family that will always be with us and that we will try to preserve.' Jota's former team-mates Jordan Henderson and James Miler were visibly emotional (PA) Players from Penafiel, the team for whom Jota's brother played, also attended. A wake was held on Friday for the pair before the coffins were carried into church on Saturday morning followed by mourners, led by Jota's wife and family. After the service, which was broadcast to hundreds standing outside, they were taken to the cemetery next to the church for a private ceremony. A seventh-day mass will be held on Wednesday. Jota's national team manager Roberto Martinez, who was also in attendance, said: 'They are really sad days, as you can imagine, but today we have shown we are a very large, but close family. 'It was essential for us that, (with) Andre Silva and Diogo Jota, we are together and we will always be together and their spirit will be with us forever. 'Thank you very much for your messages, for your support and everything that we have received (from) all over the world. It means a lot and today we are all one football family.' Everton manager David Moyes and assistant Alan Irvine laid a floral tribute at Anfield (Peter Byrne/PA) Reports in Portugal say Liverpool have committed to paying out the remainder of Jota's two-year contract to his family. Tributes continue to be left at Anfield, where Everton manager David Moyes and assistant Alan Irvine laid flowers on Saturday with the message: 'With heartfelt sympathy, from David Moyes and everyone at Everton Football Club.' Manchester City-supporting brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher paid their own tribute at Oasis' comeback gig at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Friday night when, during the final bars of Live Forever, a picture of Jota was displayed to cheers and applause.
Daily Record
16 minutes ago
- Daily Record
£8.6m 'Brazilian magician' sparks Rangers transfer swirls as Dor Turgeman teammate 'targeted' for Ibrox move
Brazilian wing wizard Weslley Patati has been linked with a move to Ibrox Reports in Brazil claim Rangers are interested in a Maccabi Tel Aviv forward – but this time it's not Dor Turgeman in the headlines. It's his teammate, 21-year-old Weslley Patati, who has affectionately been dubbed the 'Brazilian magician' by his fans. The Ibrox side have kicked their recruitment drive into life in recent days with Thelo Aasgaard and Emmanuel Fernandez arriving in a £6m double swoop this week. They've also brought in Max Aarons and are closing in on a deal for Conor Coady. But strengthening further up the pitch is also part of the plan. We've heard Jamie Vardy's name mentioned while striker Turgeman is firmly on the radar. However things appear to have taken a twist as multiple reports in South America claim Turgeman's teammate Patati is also an option being pursued. It's claimed the Ibrox side are on a long list of clubs keen on the 21-year-old. AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, Al Wahda and Al Ain in the UAE and Girona in Spain are all said to be keen alongside unnamed teams in the Premier League and Championship down south. It's added that AZ and the UAE clubs have submitted offers up to the value of €4m (£3.5m) – but that the Tel Aviv club aren't entertaining that and want €10m (£8.6m) before they'll consider selling him. That's due to the fact his former club Santos hold 40 per cent of his rights and would be due a sizeable chunk of whatever Maccabi sell him for. Complicating the situation further is swirling interest in their other striker Turgeman – they don't want to lose both this window and see Patati, who starred last season with 13 goals and 10 assists, as a key figure in softening the blow should Turgeman depart. A product of the famed Santos academy, Maccabi brought Patati in last summer and he's hit the ground running immediately with a stunning debut season that saw him dubbed the 'Brazilian Magician' by adoring fans. He featured right across the forward line, though primarily from the right wing which is exactly where Rangers need to strengthen to replace Vaclav Cerny. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
