Tenerife is mourning the death of Jesús de Miguel, the club’s 30-year-old striker, who died from injuries suffered in a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during Monday’s match. Tributes have drawn hundreds of people to the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium, where supporters have left flowers, candles, scarves, photographs, messages and children’s drawings near gate nine.
De Miguel had become a popular figure at Tenerife, scoring 11 goals in his first season as the club earned promotion to the second tier of Spanish football. Fans, residents and visitors have gathered in silence at the stadium to remember him.
Lisa and Lee, visiting Tenerife from Stoke-on-Trent, attended Monday’s match and returned on Wednesday to leave a Port Vale shirt among the tributes. They told BBC Sport that seeing players crying and praying on the pitch had been deeply moving. “Football has no colours,” Lisa said, describing the loss as one that supporters would feel as if it had happened to a member of their family.
Carlos, a player with Tenerife Foundation’s disability team, said De Miguel had helped shape the club’s recent history. He described the striker as someone who had given everything for the shirt and said the team was “incredibly hurt and very sad.” Carlos also expressed his support for De Miguel’s family.
Poli Suárez, the Canary Islands’ minister for education and sport, said the club and Canarian sport had been devastated. He said the government would support the club, its players and supporters, and noted that De Miguel’s connection to Tenerife had made him part of the islands’ sporting history.
A further tribute is planned at the stadium on Saturday at 18:00 GMT. Suárez said it would give supporters an opportunity to honour De Miguel and show solidarity with his family.
Sources: BBC Sport.