Portugal’s coach Roberto Martinez, has paid tribute to Diogo Jota, following reports of his death in a car accident in Spain, declaring that the nation will “mourn the loss of one of its heroes” after news that forces a wider reflection on “life in general”.
In a video shared by the Portugal Football Federation (FPF), Roberto Martinez stated that everyone involved with the national team is “devastated” by the passing of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, a winger for Penafiel in the Portuguese second division.
“We all share the family’s grief. A tragedy like this makes us question life in general,” the Spanish coach said. According to Martinez, the Portugal squad is “a family that extends far beyond football, and Diogo Jota was a vital part of it, both on and off the pitch.”
He added: “His professionalism and conviction were both contagious and exemplary. On the pitch, he wore the shirt with pride, and his work in the area was world-class.” “Portugal will feel the loss of one of its heroes,” he concluded.
Diogo Jota was a regular in the Portugal attack under Roberto Martinez, and the pair recently won the Nations League. Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva, 25, died this Thursday in Zamora, Spain, following a traffic accident.
