Tenerife Forward Jesus de Miguel Laid to Rest Amid Outpouring of Support

The town of Navahermosa in Spain hosted the funeral of Jesus de Miguel on Thursday, honoring the memory of the Tenerife forward who passed away at just 30 years old. De Miguel's family reflected on the profound impact he had on countless lives, stating, "the mark he has left on so many people" will always be cherished. The footballer tragically died following a critical injury suffered during a Spanish second division match on Monday. In a collision with the FC Andorra goalkeeper, De Miguel fell unconscious on the field. Medical personnel rushed to his aid, but he was later pronounced dead in the hospital early Tuesday morning. The goalkeeper involved in the incident, Jesus Owono, received a red card for the challenge, leading to the abandonment of the match. In the wake of the heartbreaking news, fans gathered at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez in Tenerife to pay their respects, leaving flowers and lighting candles beneath a poignant black and white image of De Miguel. Since his arrival at Tenerife in the summer of 2025, De Miguel had made a significant mark on the club, prompting a minute's silence at games across European competitions this week. His agent, Manuel Hernandez, conveyed the family's gratitude in a heartfelt statement: "Thank you for loving him, for remembering him and for being with us. We cannot find enough words to thank you for every message, every phone call and every gesture of affection we are receiving." Hernandez continued, "Thank you to everyone who has remembered him - his colleagues, friends, supporters and all the clubs that have sent us their condolences and stood by us during this deeply painful time. Feeling such affection for Jesus and seeing the mark he has left on so many people is something we will always carry with us." The emotional toll of this loss was also felt by goalkeeper Owono, who described this period as "the most difficult days of my life." He shared his grief, stating, "I feel enormous pain over the loss of Jesus. I think of him, his family, and everyone who loved him." The funeral took place in his family's hometown, approximately 125 kilometers from Madrid. Among the mourners were prominent figures such as current Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, along with Atletico Madrid's Miguel Angel Gil Marin and former coach Jose Antonio Camacho. The family requested privacy during this grieving period, saying, "We need to grieve in the peace and quiet that this situation demands. We appreciate the affection, concern and expressions of support that his loss is inspiring, and we are deeply grateful to you all." In light of De Miguel's passing, the Spanish footballers' union, AFE, requested that all matches this weekend be postponed as a mark of respect. Already, Tenerife’s match against Granada and Andorra’s clash with Mallorca have been called off, along with several midweek cup fixtures. While matches in European competitions have continued, the AFE emphasized the need for a pause, stating, "The footballers have expressed their deep sorrow for this loss and do not believe that there are the psychological and humane conditions necessary for the competition to be played in normal circumstances." Across the island of Tenerife, the community continues to mourn the loss of De Miguel, remembering a player who touched so many lives.