Tenerife held a farewell ceremony for late player Jesús de Miguel at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium on Saturday, with fans, teammates, family members and club representatives in attendance.
A ceremony lasting nearly two hours
The ceremony lasted nearly two hours, according to Marca. Storm “Bruna” kept the stands from filling, while queues of fans formed outside the stadium.
Fans and clubs attend
Representatives from clubs across the Spanish first and second divisions attended alongside Tenerife fans, De Miguel’s teammates and members of his family. The memorial was mostly silent before chants rose for “Demi”, De Miguel’s name among his teammates and admirers.
Fans left flowers, candles, scarves and shirts at gate number 9, which was linked to De Miguel’s shirt.
Tributes from teammates and the club
Enric Gallego, the team’s captain, said: “It is very difficult to be here.”
He added: “No one is prepared to be here at a time like this, or to find the right words to bid farewell to someone who was with us in the dressing room until recently.”
Gallego then addressed his late teammate: “You will always be one of us.”
Club president Felipe Miñambres described De Miguel as a calm man who was close to everyone and always ready to help others without expecting anything in return. Miñambres said De Miguel was shy off the pitch but that his shyness disappeared inside the penalty area.
A commitment to his daughter
Rayco García, the club’s largest shareholder, thanked the institutions, clubs and fans that offered support during the ordeal, including Las Palmas and its president Miguel Ángel Ramírez. He said: “We will not let her lack anything.”
A message from De Miguel’s family closed the ceremony: “When pain is shared, love is multiplied.”
