Jesús de Miguel Had Just Reached His Football Dream at 30 — Now His Family Faces a Future Without Him

For much of his football career, Jesús de Miguel was far from the spotlight. He spent years moving between lower-league clubs, fighting for opportunities and working toward a dream that many professional footballers take for granted: making it to Spain’s second division.

At 30, he had finally made it.

But just as a new chapter was beginning, the Tenerife striker’s life was cut short in a tragic on-field collision that has left Spanish football in mourning.

De Miguel’s journey was not one of overnight success. He began playing in the youth system at Leganés before building his career through a series of smaller Spanish clubs, including Fuenlabrada, Inter Madrid, Unión Adarve and Navalcarnero. He later played for Salamanca and Castellón before joining CD Tenerife.

The path was difficult, marked by injuries and years of trying to establish himself. He did not become a household name, nor did he enjoy the wealth and attention associated with football’s biggest stars.

Instead, he built his career through hard work and persistence.

His breakthrough came later than most players would hope. By the age of 27, he had reached Spain’s professional divisions, and he went on to help teams earn promotion. His move to Tenerife represented another important milestone.

When the club secured promotion, De Miguel spoke about how meaningful the achievement was. He had once been a child dreaming of a life in football, and now he was experiencing moments he had never imagined possible.

In an interview with SER Tenerife that resurfaced after his dєatᩚh, he reflected on the difficult road to success.

“Nothing in life is easy. There will be good moments and bad ones too; it is a path you have to walk,” he said.

He added that making supporters happy and watching them celebrate goals were among the most rewarding parts of the sport.

Away from football, De Miguel had built a family life with his partner, María. The couple shared a young daughter, Clara, who was just 16 months old when tᩚraɢedy struck.

María was at the stadium with their daughter when De Miguel suffered the collision during Tenerife’s match against FC Andorra on November 2.

The striker was chasing the ball when Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono came out to challenge him. The impact left De Miguel unconscious, and medical staff rushed to his aid.

He suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest on the pitch. Medical personnel managed to restore his pulse, and he was taken to hospital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. However, his condition deteriorated overnight, and he died the following morning.

He was 30.

The loss devastated his teammates and the wider football community. Javi Alonso, one of his Tenerife teammates, remembered him as a hardworking player and a wonderful person who was always willing to help others.

The club’s leadership also pledged to support his family. Tenerife’s president, Felipe Miñambres, spoke about the need for the club and those around the team to help María and their daughter through the difficult years ahead.

A fundraising campaign was also launched to provide financial support for the family. Former Tenerife player Fran Sol helped organize the effort, while Almería announced that its gate receipts from an upcoming match against Tenerife would be donated to them.

The tributes extended far beyond the Canary Islands.

At De Miguel’s funeral in Navahermosa, the small town where his family lived, hundreds of mourners gathered to say goodbye. His teammates carried his coffin through the streets, while representatives from clubs and organizations across Spanish football attended.

Among those paying their respects were Spain national team manager Luis de la Fuente, Spanish football federation president Rafael Louzán and representatives of major clubs.

The family also shared a message of gratitude through their representative, Manuel Hernández, describing the enormous void left by De Miguel while thanking everyone who had supported them.

For those who knew him, his story is not simply about a footballer who died during a match. It is also about a man who spent years pursuing a difficult dream, finally reached the professional level he had worked so hard for, and was building a future with the people he loved.

His daughter will grow up without her father, while his teammates and supporters will remember a player whose greatest achievements came not from fame, but from perseverance, humility and the relationships he built along the way.

Source:  Dailymail