CD Tenerife farewells striker Jesús de Miguel at packed Heliodoro Rodríguez stadium

A packed farewell at the Heliodoro

On Saturday, 7 November, the Heliodoro Rodríguez López in Santa Cruz de Tenerife opened its gates with free entry for a tribute to Jesús de Miguel, the 30-year-old striker who died on Tuesday, 3 November. El País reported that he had suffered chest trauma from a blow by Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono on Monday, 2 November. The club had convened the act for 18:00, and El País put the crowd at several thousand, with the stands full and fans singing the chant they had used for his goals. A shirt with the number 9 and a bouquet of flowers marked the spot on the pitch where the impact happened, while a banner read 'Eterno Demi'. Supporters of UD Las Palmas, through the Ultra Naciente group, laid a wreath in his name.

The captain's words

Captain Enric Gallego was the first to speak for the squad. La Vanguardia reported that no player had been scheduled to address the crowd, but Gallego stepped forward in tears and spoke for about five minutes. He told the stadium that the players were not ready for a moment like this, and described the striker as simple, discreet and natural, someone who never sought the spotlight. He also recalled a time when De Miguel's car broke down and he chose to walk home without telling anyone.

“Demi, you will always be one of us. It is very hard to be here today.”

His hardest words came at the end of the speech, when he spoke about how the squad now has to talk about the striker in the past tense.

“Today we have to do something we never could have imagined: speak of you in the past tense. It is tremendously unfair.”

The club and its officials

CD Tenerife president Felipe Miñambres said the striker never asked for anything and was one of those who gave. He recalled that De Miguel had played alongside his son at Unión Adarve before joining Tenerife. Majority shareholder Rayco García thanked UD Las Palmas for what he called its humble and sincere support, and said there were no words to ease the pain of the family. He called seeing a mother desperately trying to hold on to life the hardest thing he had ever witnessed. Canary Islands vice-president Manuel Domínguez, Tenerife Cabildo president Rosa Dávila and LaLiga president Javier Tebas attended, along with executives from Real Madrid, Real Betis, Athletic Club and Villarreal. The presenter, José Manuel Pitti, opened the programme, and a religious act presided over by bishop Eloy Alberto Santiago followed the speeches.

Support for the family

Tenerife CEO Antonio Manuel Porro Granados told The Athletic that the club had committed to supporting the striker's family and his 16-month-old daughter, a commitment made at the initiative of majority shareholder Rayco García. He said the club was exploring ways to increase its financial support so that the family's circumstances would be eased as far as possible. He also said Premier League club Manchester United had sent a message of condolence to Tenerife.

“We want to be there for her at least until she reaches adulthood.”

Accounts differ on how long the pledge lasts. One report of the interview puts it at 18, while LaSexta reported that the club would cover the girl's upkeep until she turns 16.

Burial and the suspended match

El Mundo reported that De Miguel was buried on Thursday, 5 November, in the cemetery of Navahermosa, the village of his parents, before the club's stadium tribute was held. LaSexta reported that CD Tenerife had been due to play Granada this weekend, and that the fixture was suspended because of the death.