Tenerife teammates carry De Miguel's coffin as football mourns striker who died at 30

Jesús de Miguel was buried in Navahermosa, Toledo on Thursday, his Tenerife teammates dressed in black suits and ties as they carried his coffin into the funeral ceremony. The 30-year-old striker died in hospital on Tuesday morning, two days after suffering serious injuries in a Spanish Segunda División match against FC Andorra.

De Miguel collided with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during Monday night’s clash — a challenge that saw Owono sent off. A preliminary autopsy report concluded that De Miguel died of “accidental chest trauma” sustained in the incident.

His agent Manuel Hernández read a statement on behalf of the family at the service, attended by teammates, club staff and close friends. “Jesus leaves a void impossible to fill, but also an immense memory in all of us who have been lucky enough to share our lives with him,” the statement read. “Thank you for loving him, for remembering him, and for being with us.”

The family asked for privacy in the days ahead. “We need to grieve in the peace and quiet that this situation requires,” Hernández said. “Feeling such love for Jesus and witnessing the impact he has had on so many people is something we will always carry with us.”

De Miguel is survived by his girlfriend María and their one-year-old daughter Carla. His friend Fernando Román told Spanish outlet Vamos a Ver that the families had been planning a holiday together just before the tragedy. “We were talking about traveling to Disney with the girls, with my daughter too, and look what’s happened,” Román said.

According to a neighbour in Navahermosa, De Miguel’s father had been watching the match in a local bar when the collision occurred. He began crying immediately and gathered his family to fly to Tenerife that same night.

Tributes have poured in from across the football world, with moments of remembrance observed at this week’s Champions League fixtures. Thousands of Tenerife supporters also gathered at the club’s stadium to pay their respects earlier in the week.

Owono, the goalkeeper involved in the collision, was forced to disable his social media accounts after receiving online abuse in the aftermath of the incident.