Diogo Jota and his brother died in a car crash, with Liverpool announcing they had decided to retire his No 20 shirt in memory of the striker on Saturday in an emotional tribute
11:02, 13 Jul 2025Updated 11:02, 13 Jul 2025
Arne Slot
Arne Slot said the team will hold Jota 'in their hearts'
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Diogo Jota, insisting his memory will live on at the club after retiring his No 20 jersey.
The forward tragically passed away in a car accident in Portugal at the age of 28, along with his brother Andre, leaving the football community reeling in shock.
Liverpool were particularly devastated by Jota's untimely death, and the decision to retire his shirt number was made in recognition of the profound impact he had on the team, staff, and fans. Slot expressed his sentiments, saying: "We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go. Maybe especially in difficult moments."
The Dutch manager continued: "But in any moment we are here, we will carry him with us in our thoughts and in our hearts. To retire his shirt is the one thing we could, should and have done."
Arne Slot
Arne Slot shared a tribute for the Portuguese forward
As the team prepares for their friendly match against Preston on Sunday, Slot acknowledged the difficulty in returning to football amid the collective grief. "Nothing seems to be important if we think of what has happened," he said.
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"It's very difficult to find the right words because we constantly debate what is appropriate. Can we train again? Can we laugh again? And I've said to them, maybe the best thing for us to do is handle this situation like Jota was," reports the Mirror.
The Liverpool boss explained: "And what I meant with that is that Jota was always himself, it didn't matter if he was talking to me, to his teammates, to the staff, he was always himself. So let us try to be ourselves as well."
Diogo Jota
Jota's shirt has been retired(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Slot and much of the Liverpool first team were in attendance at Jota's funeral in Gondomar, Portugal, this week as captain Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson were seen carrying wreaths shaped like football shirts, with his No 20 visible in the middle.
It was revealed that Liverpool will retire the squad number 20 in honour of Diogo Jota.
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It will the be the first time the Reds have made such a gesture in the club's history and means the number will forever be the Portuguese forward's.
The significant gesture will see the shirt number retired at all levels of the club, including the men’s senior side, women’s, U21s and academy level. The decision was also made by the club after they had a meeting with Jota's widow, Rute, who married the star just 11 days before he died.
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