Tenerife bid tearful farewell to Jesus de Miguel after striker died following on-pitch collision
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Thousands gathered at Tenerife‘s stadium on Saturday to pay their final respects to striker Jesus de Miguel, with captain Enric Gallego fighting back tears to remember a teammate who died aged 30 after suffering a cardiac arrest following a match collision.
De Miguel was taken to intensive care after colliding with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono on Monday. Spanish second-division club Tenerife confirmed his passing on Tuesday morning.
A massive banner displaying his black-and-white photograph and the words “Forever Demi” hung behind a central pitch stage at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez.
Following a video showing footage of his Tenerife debut, fans chanted: “De Miguel, we love you”.
Players sat beside representatives from all clubs in Spain’s top two divisions, including Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno, as tears fell in the stands.
“To speak of you in the past tense is tremendously unfair,” Gallego said, pausing repeatedly during his speech.
“It’s still hard to believe that this has happened to us, Demi; you’ll always be one of us.”
Demi was the nickname used by De Miguel’s friends.
“We’re still struggling to come to terms with the fact that you won’t be with us again,” Gallego added.
Addresses by club directors were followed by a religious service during the 90-minute tribute in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Matches across all Spanish divisions observed a minute’s silence over the weekend in De Miguel’s honour.
On Wednesday, Owono spoke out about the “enormous pain” he felt following De Miguel’s death.
“These are the most difficult days of my life,” Owono, an Equatorial Guinea international, said in a statement released by his club Andorra on Wednesday.
“I’m struggling to find the words and finding it very difficult to process anything that has happened.
“I feel enormous pain at the loss of Jesus. I think of him, his family, and all the people who loved him. I know there will be many issues to address, and I will face whatever comes with the utmost respect. But right now, honestly, I can’t think of anything other than Jesus and the pain we are experiencing.
“Rest in peace, Jesus.”
