Liverpool manager Arne Slot says Diogo Jota “was a loved one to all of us” following the forward's tragic death.
News of the untimely passing of Jota and his brother André has both rocked and united the football world, with fans across the globe coming together with shows of support to his family, friends and all those who supported Jota throughout his career.
Former boss Jürgen Klopp was among those to react to the heartbreaking news, and Slot has now shared his own fond memories of Jota.
The pair may have only worked together for one Premier League title-winning campaign, but Slot grew close to Jota following his move to Liverpool and had nothing but raw emotion to show in the aftermath of his passing.
“What to say?” Slot began. “What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not. All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.
“My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and André Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.
“My message to them is very clear—you will never walk alone. The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football.
“This is not solely a response to tragedy. It is also a reaction to the goodness of the people involved and the respect that so many have for the boys as individuals and for the family as a whole. 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 teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special.
“I could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it. Hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, goals. The essence of what a Liverpool player should be.
“There were also the parts that not everyone got to see. The person who never sought popularity but found it anyway. Not a friend to two people, a friend to everyone. Someone who made others feel good about themselves just by being with them. A person who cared deeply for his family.
“The last time we spoke, I congratulated Diogo on winning the Nations League and wished him luck for his forthcoming wedding. In many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this.
“When I first came to the club, one of the first songs I got to know was the one that our fans sing for Diogo. I had not worked with him previously but I knew straight away that if the Liverpool supporters, who have seen so many great players over the years, had such a unique chant for Diogo, he must have special qualities.
“That we have lost those qualities in such terrible circumstances is something we have not yet come to terms with. For this reason, we need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to André Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves.
“My condolences go to Diogo’s wife, Rute, their three beautiful children and to the parents of Diogo and André Silva.
“When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten.
“His name is Diogo.”
Fenway Sports Group Release Statement
“On behalf of the leadership teams at Liverpool Football Club and Fenway Sports Group, we offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of our number 20 - Diogo Jota, and his brother Andre Silva,” a statement on behalf of Billy Hogan, John Henry, Tom Werner and Mike Gordon said.
“This tragic situation and the reality of it is truly shocking, devastating and has left us numb with grief. We therefore cannot imagine how the immediate and wider family of these remarkable brothers must be feeling. Our thoughts, prayers and support are with them all.
“We all know what Diogo could do on the field of play and the vital role he played in our successes since he joined this club in 2020. How he quickly became a firm fan favourite, and his song reverberated around Anfield and in stadiums across the world.
“So many special moments, so many special memories.
“But beyond the player that we all knew, was a wonderfully humble human being, he was sincere, intelligent, funny, tough and created connections with people everywhere he went. He had a zest for life that was utterly contagious. Diogo was a loving father, son, husband and brother, and we, and everyone who knew him, will miss him deeply as we all try and process the enormity of today.
“Rest in peace, Diogo and André. You Will Never Walk Alone.”
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as ‘A Loved One to All of Us’—Arne Slot Remembers Diogo Jota With Heartfelt Statement.
