Tenerife hold emotional memorial for Jesus de Miguel as fans pay tribute

Tenerife held an emotional memorial for Jesus de Miguel at the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez stadium on Saturday, with supporters, teammates, family members and representatives from Spain’s top two divisions gathering to honour the player who died at a young age.

The ceremony lasted almost two hours, according to Marca, and was marked by long periods of silence and repeated tears. Football was set aside as those present recalled a player whose death has left a deep sense of loss across the club.

Storm Bruna prevented the stadium from reaching capacity, but queues outside the ground showed the strength of feeling among Tenerife supporters. As the memorial progressed, the silence was broken by chants for “Dimi”, the name by which Jesus de Miguel was known to teammates and fans.

Gate nine, closely associated with the player’s shirt, became the focal point of the tribute. Supporters covered the area with flowers, candles, scarves and shirts, leaving messages for a player who will never wear Tenerife’s colours again.

Tenerife captain Enric Gallego spoke about the difficulty of accepting his teammate’s death and said the dressing room was still struggling to come to terms with the loss.

“It is very difficult to be here. No-one is prepared to be here at a time like this, or to find the right words to say goodbye to someone who was with us in the dressing room until recently,” Gallego said.

He added a personal message to his former teammate: “You will always be one of us.”

Gallego said Jesus de Miguel’s memory would remain part of the players’ lives, adding that Tenerife was more than a sporting institution and had become a family for those connected with it.

Club president Felipe Minambres recalled a quiet, approachable man who was always willing to help others without expecting anything in return. He said the player’s shyness away from the pitch disappeared inside the penalty area.

Raico Garcia, the club’s largest shareholder, expressed his deep sorrow at the loss suffered by the Tenerife family. He thanked the institutions, clubs and supporters who had offered assistance during the difficult period, with particular recognition for Las Palmas and its president, Miguel Angel Ramirez. His gesture underlined the support between the two clubs despite their rivalry.

The most significant commitment of the ceremony was made to Carla, Jesus de Miguel’s daughter. Garcia said Tenerife would not leave her alone and would ensure she always understood who her father was and what wearing the club’s shirt represented.

“We will not let her lack anything,” he said.

The memorial ended with a message from Jesus de Miguel’s family: “When pain is shared, love is multiplied.”

Tenerife’s upcoming fixtures include a Copa del Rey match against CD Badajoz on 10 November 2026, followed by a Segunda Division fixture against Granada on 15 November 2026. Las Palmas was also listed among the club’s scheduled opponents.