Football Club Makes Heartbreaking Promise to Late Star’s Baby Daughter After His Sudden dєatᩚh on the Pitch

A Spanish football club has made a deeply emotional promise to the young daughter of its late striker, pledging to support her financially until she turns 18 after her father died following a collision during a match.

CD Tenerife announced the commitment during a memorial ceremony for Jesús de Miguel, who died aged 30 after suffering a serious injury in a match against FC Andorra. His dєatᩚh has devastated his family, teammates and supporters, prompting an extraordinary wave of solidarity across the football world.

The club’s majority shareholder, Rayco García, made the promise directly to the family during a tribute at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium on November 7.

Addressing De Miguel’s loved ones, García assured them that his daughter, Carla, would not have to face the future alone.

“Carla will never be alone,” he said, promising that the Tenerife community would come together to support her until she reaches adulthood.

The club’s chief executive, Antonio Manuel Porro Granados, later confirmed that the commitment had the full backing of Tenerife’s leadership. He told The Athletic that the initiative came from García and that the club intended to provide as much assistance as possible, going beyond its legal obligations.

Granados said the club was also exploring additional ways to increase financial support for the family. While acknowledging that no financial contribution could undo the tᩚraɢedy, he said Tenerife hoped to reduce some of the economic hardship the family might otherwise face.

De Miguel is survived by his wife, María, and their young daughter, who was just 16 months old when he died.

The tᩚraɢedy unfolded during Tenerife’s second-division match against FC Andorra on November 2. In the closing moments of the game, De Miguel collided with Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono while chasing the ball.

The striker suffered a cardiac arrest and received emergency treatment on the pitch before being taken to hospital. Despite efforts to save him, he died the following morning.

His wife and daughter had been watching from the stadium that day, making the loss even more devastating for the family.

The response from Spanish football has been extraordinary. Former Tenerife player Fran Sol launched a crowdfunding campaign to help De Miguel’s loved ones, while professional players, clubs and supporters contributed to the effort.

Among those reported to have donated were Spain internationals Álvaro Morata and Álex Baena. The fundraising total had passed £125,000 by November 8, with contributions continuing to arrive.

Other clubs have also pledged support. Burgos and Almería announced plans to donate gate receipts from their matches against Tenerife to De Miguel’s family, while messages of condolence and solidarity arrived from teams across Europe.

On November 7, thousands of supporters gathered at Tenerife’s home stadium to pay tribute to the striker. His teammates appeared dressed in black, flowers were placed on the pitch where he had collapsed, and fans chanted his name.

Captain Enric Gallego struggled to hold back tears as he spoke about his teammate, remembering him as a humble man who never wanted to inconvenience others. He also promised that Carla would grow up knowing how much her father meant to the people around him.

The memorial was not simply a farewell to a footballer. It was a gathering for a family whose life had changed in a matter of moments, and for a club determined to remain beside them long after the immediate shock had passed.

For Tenerife, the pledge to support Carla until adulthood is a promise that De Miguel’s connection with the club will continue through the daughter he leaves behind.

His career and life ended far too soon, but his teammates, supporters and the wider football community are determined that his family will not be left to face the years ahead without help.