Football World Unites for Final Goodbye to Jesús de Miguel as His Family Shares Heartbreaking Message
Hundreds of mourners gathered in a small Spanish village to say goodbye to Jesús de Miguel, the Tenerife striker whose sudden dєatᩚh following an on-field collision has left football supporters across the country devastated.
The 30-year-old was laid to rest on Thursday, November 5, in Navahermosa, the village in Toledo province closely connected to his family. His funeral brought together relatives, childhood friends, teammates and some of the most prominent figures in Spanish football.
De Miguel died on November 3, one day after suffering a cardiac arrest following a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a second-division match.
His Tenerife teammates travelled from the Canary Islands to attend the service, standing alongside the family of the player they had lost so unexpectedly.
Among the high-profile mourners were Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente, Spanish Football Federation president Rafael Louzán, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez and Atlético Madrid chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín.
The funeral procession passed through the village before the service at San Miguel Arcángel church. After the ceremony, friends and fellow footballers helped carry De Miguel’s coffin to the local cemetery.
Family’s emotional words reveal the size of their loss
Before the funeral, the family’s message was read by the striker’s agent, Manuel Hernández.
They expressed gratitude for the extraordinary support they had received from friends, teammates, supporters and clubs across Spain.
“Jesús leaves a void that is impossible to fill, but also cherished memories for all of us who were fortunate enough to share our lives with him,” the family said.
They also thanked everyone who had stood beside them during the painful days following his dєatᩚh.
The family asked for privacy as they tried to come to terms with the loss, but their message made clear how deeply they had been touched by the affection shown to Jesús.
Spain’s football community stands together
De la Fuente attended to represent the national football community and offered his condolences to the family.
He said the presence of so many people demonstrated that football could come together in moments of profound pain.
Representatives from several clubs where De Miguel had played also travelled to Navahermosa. Even teams that had never shared a dressing room with him sent tributes, flowers and messages of support.
The village declared three days of mourning, with flags at half-mast at the town hall.
A final tribute beyond the funeral
The tributes did not end with the burial. Tenerife invited supporters to gather at its stadium on Saturday, November 7, for a final public farewell.
Across Spain’s top two divisions, matches were also marked in his memory. A minute’s silence was observed before games, while referees were asked to stop play at the first interruption after the ninth minute, honouring the number De Miguel wore for Tenerife.
His dєatᩚh has also prompted a police investigation into the circumstances of the collision.
For those who gathered in Navahermosa, however, the immediate priority was not football or the investigation. It was standing beside a family whose lives had been changed forever.
Jesús de Miguel was only 30. He leaves behind loved ones, teammates and friends who will remember him not simply for the goals he scored, but for the person they knew away from the pitch.
