The family of Jesus de Miguel expressed their deep gratitude for the widespread support they have received as the funeral for the 30-year-old Tenerife forward took place on Thursday. De Miguel passed away on Tuesday morning after sustaining a severe injury during a Spanish second division match against FC Andorra on Monday.
Funeral and Tributes
The service was held at the San Miguel Arcangel church in Navahermosa, Toledo, the hometown of the player’s parents. De Miguel’s teammates from Tenerife served as pallbearers, carrying his casket into the church. Among the mourners in attendance were Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, Atletico Madrid chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin, and former Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho.
In a statement released on behalf of the family, De Miguel’s agent, Manuel Hernandez, thanked the public for their outpouring of sympathy. “We cannot find enough words to thank you for every message, every phone call and every gesture of affection we are receiving,” the statement read. The family noted that while the player left an irreplaceable void, they would always cherish the impact he made on those around him.
Following the announcement of his death, fans gathered at Tenerife’s Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez to leave flowers and candles in his memory. European football authorities have also honored the late forward by holding a minute of silence at all matches throughout the week.
The Incident and Union Response
De Miguel collapsed on the pitch following a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono, who was subsequently sent off. The match was abandoned as medical staff treated the player, who later died in the hospital. In a statement reported by BBC Sport, Owono expressed his profound grief, describing the situation as the most difficult period of his life and offering his thoughts to the player’s family.
The Spanish footballers’ union, the AFE, has formally requested that all matches scheduled for this weekend be postponed. The union stated that players across all categories unanimously believe that the necessary psychological conditions to compete are currently absent. While the league has already postponed Tenerife’s match against Granada and Andorra’s fixture against Mallorca, the AFE is pushing for a broader suspension of play to honor the player’s memory.
In their statement, the family requested privacy as they navigate this period of mourning. They emphasized their need for peace and quiet while reiterating their appreciation for the support shown by the football community.
