Tenerife pay tribute to Jesus de Miguel in emotional return after striker’s death

Tenerife marked their return to action after the death of striker Jesus de Miguel with a 2-0 win over Ceuta, but the result was secondary to an emotional night of remembrance at the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez.

The Segunda Division match on Sunday was the club’s first since de Miguel died at the age of 30, prompting tributes from his team-mates, opponents and more than 15,000 supporters.

De Miguel suffered a serious injury during Tenerife’s previous game against Andorra. He was involved in an aerial challenge with goalkeeper Jesus Owono and was taken to intensive care before dying in hospital the following morning.

His death shocked Spanish football and led to an outpouring of grief and solidarity around Tenerife.

Before kick-off, Ceuta’s players gathered at gate nine of the stadium to pay their respects. The entrance bears a mural featuring de Miguel, who wore the number nine shirt for Tenerife.

Tenerife captain Enric Gallego led his team on to the pitch carrying a bouquet of flowers. His team-mates wore white shirts displaying the number nine and the words: “We will always remember him.”

Players from both sides then formed a circle in the centre of the pitch and observed a minute’s silence in tribute to the forward.

The remembrance continued during the match. In the ninth minute, the crowd applauded in honour of de Miguel while supporters held up a banner reading: “Jesus de Miguel, the eternal blue and white number nine.”

Tenerife fans also sang a new song dedicated to the late player, titled “De Miguel, te quiero” (“De Miguel, I love you”). The chant expressed their affection for him and their determination to keep his memory alive.

One of the most moving moments came in the 40th minute. Tenerife player Nacho Gil, wearing a black armband, held up his former team-mate’s shirt during a celebration. Unable to hold back his tears, Gil was joined in showing emotion by his team-mates and the supporters.

The night had begun with Tenerife returning to league competition, but it became a collective farewell to de Miguel. The club, its fans and its opponents united around the same message: the number nine shirt will remain part of Tenerife’s identity, even after the player who wore it is gone.