logo
'Fairytales do come true'

'Fairytales do come true'

BBC News24-04-2025
Football journalist Henry Winter has shared his tribute to Jamie Vardy after the Leicester striker confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season."He's just one of life's characters," Winter told BBC Radio Leicester's fan forum."I don't think in the time I've known him he has particularly changed. He's down to earth, he's great fun, and look at what he has achieved, particularly from a slow start."It's nine years since the title run and it was just amazing."Everyone talks about his physical pace but there was a mental speed and agility that set him apart."He's got seven Premier League goals this season. It hasn't been a vintage season for him but it's not been a vintage season for the club."When you look at Jamie Vardy play, he does give everything. He leaves the field with sweat on his shirt every time. He's still got a role left in him with another club."I know Leicester fans and I know when he returns one day, even in the colours of another club, he will get a big salute because he absolutely deserves it. He is Leicester's greatest ever player."The legacy he will leave at the club is Foxes never quit. The legacy is for all of us in life - just never give up, persist, because fairytales do come true."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Truly awful': rival fans united in grief at Anfield after death of Diogo Jota
‘Truly awful': rival fans united in grief at Anfield after death of Diogo Jota

The Guardian

time5 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

‘Truly awful': rival fans united in grief at Anfield after death of Diogo Jota

Outside Anfield, where Diogo Jota's name recently soared from the stands, fans stood in a sombre, stricken silence. Barely five weeks ago they had watched their Portuguese hero lift the Premier League trophy, singing and dancing with his soon-to-be wife, their two sons, four and two, and their six-month-old daughter. Now, in a tragedy that puts the fleeting glories of football into shocking perspective, fans were laying floral tributes. 'It's just devastating,' said Gary Mann, 48, a season ticket holder, as he struggled to contain his emotions. 'He's a 28-year-old kid. He just always came across as a really nice human being – and that's the worst part of it. It's tremendously sad for his family.' Men, women and children were in tears as they hung scarves from trees and laid football shirts alongside an ever-growing bank of flowers outside Liverpool's main stand in the hours after Jota's death was announced on Thursday morning. Balloons bearing the number 20 – Jota's shirt number – were among the tributes, with several fans asking for the club to retire the number in his memory. 'He was an honorary scouser,' said Elliot Francis, 19, wearing his Liverpool jersey with Jota's autograph on the back, signed by the Kop favourite after one of the many home games when he would stop and talk to supporters. Jota's death – in a car crash in Spain alongside his 26-year-old brother, André Silva – is one of those shocking events that cuts through club rivalry and transcends football. Everton shirts were among those laid alongside those of Liverpool, Leeds United, Glasgow Rangers, Crystal Palace and other clubs opposite Anfield's Hillsborough memorial, dedicated to the 97 killed in the 1989 stadium disaster. 'My stomach turned this morning when I heard the news,' said Liza, 47, who would be raising eyebrows by wearing her Everton shirt at Anfield on any other day. 'It's not about that today. It's horrible for Liverpool fans and for the city. It's just absolutely heartbreaking.' In just the past six weeks, Jota had lifted the Premier League title with Liverpool and the Uefa Nations League trophy with Portugal. Two months ago he scored the winner in a tense home derby against Everton – his final goal. But it was the personal tragedy, rather than the onfield heroics, that left fans dumbstruck on Thursday. Jota married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, only 11 days ago, posting a video of their wedding on social media on Wednesday, along with the caption: 'A day we will never forget.' 'He had only just got married and had kids. Now his wife's a widow. It's truly awful,' said Anthony Ferns, 43. 'I live 10 minutes away and rushed over when I heard the news. I still can't believe it. It's like something from a disaster movie.' After laying down a Leeds United shirt, Maz Ferguson said she last saw Jota scoring two goals at Anfield against her club. 'But he was a player that you liked,' she said. 'He's gone out at the height of his career but football's irrelevant. He's got a wife and three young children, a mum and a dad who've just lost two sons.' Ferguson, 34, a lifelong Leeds fan, added: 'If any club has been through everything it's this club but Liverpool fans will come together for Diogo's family. This club knows how to put its arms around people.' Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, said she was 'absolutely devastated' for Jota's family after she laid a large red-and-white bouquet alongside the tributes. 'It's absolutely heartbreaking. It just shows how life events can change really quickly. I'm absolutely devastated for his wife, his children and his family. I can't imagine what they're going through at the moment. My son is 28 and it's just really shocking.' Denise Cook, a season ticket holder for 41 years, had written a line from Jota's famous chant – 'And his name is Diogo' – on her floral tribute. 'It will go down as one of the tragic days like Hillsborough,' she said. 'He just gave everything. He never gave up, he was always chasing the ball. He was very integral. He was just always there and always trying. At the time I thought it was one of the best signings we'd made.' Amber McKendry, 30, and her partner, Roger McBurney, 34, both Liverpool fans, had flown from their home in Belfast with their three young children for a long-planned tour of the Anfield Museum when the news broke on Thursday morning. They had to break the news to Freddie, seven, Max, five, and Farrah, four, all wearing their Liverpool shirts at the stadium. 'They're still digesting it,' said McKendry. 'They haven't really dealt with much death in their life. They've all went a bit quiet. It's become a very different day for us all.'

Lionesses left in shock by Diogo Jota death as Lucy Bronze leads tributes
Lionesses left in shock by Diogo Jota death as Lucy Bronze leads tributes

Daily Mirror

time27 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Lionesses left in shock by Diogo Jota death as Lucy Bronze leads tributes

Lionesses star Lucy Bronze has shed light on the camp's reaction to the tragic death of Liverpool striker Diogo Jota as they prepare for their Women's Euros opener England star Lucy Bronze says the Lionesses were left in shock when they learned about the death of Diogo Jota. The Liverpool star and his brother Andre Silva were tragically killed in a car accident in Spain, with the Portugal international passing away on Thursday morning. A moment's silence will be held before tonight's and tomorrow's Women's Euro 2025 matches, including Portugal's group stage opener against Spain. England will begin their own campaign on Saturday against France, and Bronze reflected on how she and her team-mates reacted to the news. ‌ 'Yeah it definitely shocked all the squad when we woke up this morning and the news started to spread,' Bronze said. 'Obviously we have a lot of Liverpool fans in our team and football fans, but for people in general, everyone is just thinking of them – him and his brother. ‌ 'They were so young as well. We have seen all the messages on social media and stuff so you can tell what a great guy he has been. It's just really sad and we were shocked by the news, really.' She added: 'We'll be watching the games tonight and Portugal play their first game against Spain and I know there will be a minute's silence held before that game. I think everyone in an England shirt and everyone in the tournament will be supporting the Portuguese team because they will be a lot closer to this than we are. 'It is just a really sad moment for everyone involved in football, knowing what a great guy he is and what an amazing year he's had – not just in football, but he got married a few weeks ago and he's got some little kids. It's just so sad.' Jota, who was 28, was part of Liverpool's Premier League title winning squad under Arne Slot. He also won the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League with Portugal, playing 15 minutes of the final victory over Spain. "Just three weeks ago, I had the honour of presenting Diogo Jota with a medal after the UEFA Nations League final – a moment of joy, pride, and celebration that will now forever be burned in memory with sorrow,' UEFA president Aleksandar Ceferin said. "His passion, energy and spirit on the field inspired everyone around him. It is devastating to think that a life so full of joy and potential has been taken far too soon. Rest in peace, dear Diogo. You will not be forgotten." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Diogo Jota's joyous final weeks make his death even more devastating to comprehend
Diogo Jota's joyous final weeks make his death even more devastating to comprehend

Sky News

time27 minutes ago

  • Sky News

Diogo Jota's joyous final weeks make his death even more devastating to comprehend

The joy that filled the final weeks of Diogo Jota's life makes his death even more devastating to comprehend for his family and millions of fans worldwide. The most illustrious title of his career was won in May, when he paraded through Liverpool with his teammates and the Premier League trophy. More success came with Portugal as he won the Nations League for a second time alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in June. And then came the bliss at marrying his childhood love Rute Cardoso, watched by their three children. Just yesterday Jota posted a video from the ceremony on social media alongside the message "a day we will never forget". The happiest of days was remembered before the tragedy that killed Jota and his brother Andre Felipe in northwest Spain. Brothers - whose careers both developed at their hometown club, Porto - so tragically dying together. "Football has lost two great men," Porto president Andre Villas-Boas said, as fans descended on the club's stadium to mourn. At Anfield, Liverpool fans are grieving the versatile forward who was so often in the shadow of Mohamed Salah, as he was under Ronaldo at Portugal. But he knew how to sacrifice stardom to contribute to the squad. The last of his 65 Liverpool goals was the winner in the Merseyside derby against neighbours Everton in April - helping the club become the record 20-time champions of England. A Premier League winners' medal joining those from the FA Cup and League Cup, won by the 28-year-old after he joined the Reds in 2020. It was Wolverhampton Wanderers who gave Jota a platform to shine in England after he joined from Atletico Madrid. Promotion was gained to the Premier League in 2018, and they more than just avoided relegation, but secured back-to-back top-seven finishes. Jota was a reason why. 0:48 He was also why Wolves could embark on such a memorable European campaign, and scored two hat-tricks in the run-up to the Europa League quarter-finals in 2020. "The memories he created will never be forgotten," Wolves said. For the football world, the loss of such a talent so young will be hard to comprehend.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store