Diogo Jota, who would have turned 29 this Thursday, tragically died in a car accident in July that killed both him and his brother, Andre Silva
Diogo Jota of Liverpool poses for a photograph with the Premier League trophy, as Liverpool are crowned the Champions of the Premier League, following the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace
Diogo Jota had a phone call with a long-term acquaintance just before he and his brother's tragic deaths
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Former Liverpool forward Diogo Jota spoke with a close contact just hours before his devastating death. Jota died in the early hours of July 3 following a horrific crash involving his Lamborghini Huracan, which also claimed the life of his younger brother, Andre Silva.
The former Reds favourite, who was due to celebrate his 29th birthday on Thursday, had been making his way back to England alongside his sibling following a lung procedure, which prevented him from flying. A tyre blowout while attempting an overtake en route to their ferry at Santander caused the car to career off the carriageway before it was consumed by fire.
The ex-Reds star is survived by his spouse, Rute Cardoso, and their three young children. Jota's death proved especially heartbreaking, considering he had wed long-term partner Rute just 11 days earlier.
Details subsequently surfaced revealing he had spoken with Alvaro Cerqueira, chairman of Gondomar SC, moments before the fatal incident. Jota was just nine when he began his footballing journey with Gondomar, with younger sibling Andre following suit not long afterwards.
In an interview with JN following confirmation of Jota's death, Cerqueira revealed: "It was just after 10pm last night [Thursday], we were on the phone and he was fine.
"We spoke almost every week, and I know he was going through a happy moment. When Diogo needed to train during the off-season, he would ask to come here, and we would always make everything available.
"His brother would usually come too, and they would both train. It is difficult to talk at a time like this, but what will remain is the image of two very humble people, who leave a huge void."
Diogo Jota's parents (L) follow the coffin of Portuguese football player Diogo Jota carried out of the church after the funeral ceremony of Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva
Former Wolves team-mate Ruben Neves was one of Diogo's pallbearers at his funeral in Portugal
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Jota spent eight years developing with his hometown club before he was recruited by Pacos de Ferreira in 2013. It was only a few years later that Atletico Madrid snagged his signature, and England's top flight eventually came calling shortly after that.
His younger brother, Andre, didn't reach quite the same heights in the pro game but used his experience at Gondomar to great effect, too. In fact, he joined Porto's academy a couple of years before Diogo headed for the Gondomar exit, suggesting the top teams spotted his potential first.
More than a decade after leaving his local team, Jota still maintained those same contacts with those who aided his career. And it's a sign of the man's character that two decades after first joining Gondomar, he was still in touch with his roots.
That view is supported by Wolverhampton local Monica Ferreira, who owns Jota's favourite coffee shop in the Midlands, Aromas de Portugal. And she hailed the former Wolves talisman as a humble hero, who had few airs or graces about him despite his star profile.
Former Wolves stars Diogo Jota and Ruben Neves with coffee shop owner Monica Ferreira
Coffee shop owner Monica Ferreira has spoken of Jota's humility despite his star status
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"I opened my coffee shop and he was one of the first customers," she told The Mirror. "Myself, I don't know too much about football, so I didn't know him in the first place. My husband, when he saw him, recognised him.
"He was a normal customer. He was very polite, very humble as well, like everyone knows. And he was very nice with everyone. After his first visit to the coffee shop, he was a regular. Every time he could come to the coffee shop, he was coming with his wife.
"We did some dinners with [former Wolves midfielder] Ruben Neves as well. They were very friendly. Really nice people. Everyone is devastated with the news."