Tenerife is in full mourning following the death of striker Jesus de Miguel, who died from the consequences of a serious injury sustained in a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a Spanish second-tier league match played on Monday. De Miguel was 30 years old.
Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez has been transformed into a kind of shrine dedicated to the player. Over the past few days, hundreds of people have gathered to lay flowers, light candles and pay their respects. Around the stadium, near the ninth entrance, bouquets, rosettes sent by clubs from across Spain, prayer cards, photographs, children’s drawings and scarves have been placed.
Among those gathered were Lisa and Lee, who travelled to Tenerife from Stoke-on-Trent. They arrived for a holiday over the weekend and decided to attend Monday’s match. On Wednesday, they returned to the stadium to place a Port Vale shirt among the tributes.
Carlos, a player for Tenerife Foundation, the team for people with disabilities, was also at the match on Monday. Poli Suarez, the Canary Islands minister for education and sport, stated that Tenerife is in full mourning and emphasised that everyone’s thoughts are with the late De Miguel’s wife, daughter and wider family.
De Miguel scored 11 goals in his first season as Tenerife were promoted to the second tier of Spanish football. A further tribute is planned for Saturday at 18:00 GMT.
