Liverpool manager Arne Slot has paid a heartfelt tribute to Diogo Jota, describing him as “the essence of what a Liverpool player should be” and “a unique human being,” following the forward’s tragic death in a car crash earlier this week.
In a statement released on Wednesday evening, Slot spoke not only of Jota’s footballing ability but also of the quiet strength and warmth he brought to the club.
“There was a side of Diogo that people didn’t get to see,” Slot said. “The person who never sought popularity but found it anyway. Not a friend to two people, a friend to everyone. Someone who made others feel good about themselves just by being with them.”
Slot reflected on the deep sadness felt by players and staff alike. “For all of us at the club, the sense of shock is absolute,” he said. “We’ve lost a player, but more painfully, we’ve lost a person who cared deeply for his family and made life better for everyone around him.”
The Liverpool boss also mentioned Jota’s recent wedding to longtime partner Rute Cardoso, held just two weeks ago, calling it “a dream summer” for the couple and their three children. “Which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this,” he added.
Slot ended his message with a note to Jota’s loved ones: “To Rute, to the children, to the parents of Diogo and his brother André—my message is very clear. You will never walk alone.”
Jota’s death has sent shockwaves through the football world. Slot’s words are the latest in a long list of tributes, each painting a picture of a player whose impact ran far deeper than what he did on the pitch.
