Football Daily - Remembering Diogo Jota

Episode Date: July 3, 2025

Ben Haines and Ian Dennis remember Liverpool forward Diogo Jota who has died alongside his brother Andre Silva, in a car crash in Spain. Jota had recently undergone surgery and was driving from Porto to Santander to catch a ferry to England for pre-season training. John Gibbons from the Anfield Wrap shares his memories and what Jota meant to the football club. Jota is also remembered by Wolves fan Fin Morris where the Portuguese international played over 100 times and how the club helped shaped his career. Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock spoke to Steve Crossman about how this loss will be felt across the football community and what he was like off the pitch. Spanish football expert Guillem Balague talks to Ben and Ian about the shock in Spain where the crash happened and how he is talked about as a player and made things happen.

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Could he challenge? Experience Formula One like never before by tuning into the inside track wherever you get your podcasts. Hello and welcome along to The Football Daily on what is an unimaginably sad day for football. In the early hours of Thursday morning, Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, alongside his brother Andre Silva sadly died following a road traffic accident in the north west of Spain. He was just 28 years old and his brother Andres just 25 and this devastating news comes just after Diogo married his partner Ruta Cardoso last month. He also had three young

children as well. With us today Senior Football football reporter Ian Dennis and Ian, such terrible news today. So many people will be affected all over the world by this and it's almost impossible to comprehend but on a very human level today a family lost two sons and for Diogo's partner her new husband and father to their three children. Very much so Ben, you know the words heartbreaking, devastating, tragic have all been used. You only have to see the statements from clubs not just in the UK but across Europe and beyond to realize how the footballing world is united in their grief but as you say from a human side of

things you know the parents Joachim and Isabel Silva, how they're having to cope with losing their two sons, their two professional footballers in this awful accident must be so hard to comprehend. You mentioned his new wife, you know, his long term partner and their three children. I was at Anfield when they won the title in April and I've seen pictures of them posing in front of the cop with the Premier League trophy, the five of them and after only just what the 22nd of June it was when they celebrated their wedding, so much happiness has now been ripped away from the entire family and having to deal with this this tragic set of events. And so many people making the very valid point that

football just becomes so insignificant at a time like this yet at the same time it is the lens that so many people will have found a love for Diogo Jota through and seen his wonderful character shine on the biggest stages as well and as you said the entire football community just seems to be showing so much love and sympathy to to his family and friends. Yeah and I think and you're right with what you say, that football is irrelevant but I actually think that it will be football that will possibly help them cope with the difficult days that lie ahead in terms of dealing with their grief because Liverpool Football Club

in a statement they described as an unimaginable loss and they said that they will support the family in the best possible way and knowing the Liverpool supporters as well as a collective whenever that may be at Anfield, that sense of adoration that the Liverpool supporters had for Diogo Jota and likewise obviously for Andre Silva as well, he was a professional footballer for Penafiel who were clubbing the Portuguese second division, likewise for their supporters too. I think that the level of support that they showed whenever the time is right, when they first come together at their respective grounds, might in a small way help the family deal with what lies ahead.

So in that sense, they say time is a great healer, but I think football as a sport, the way it's come together, you only have to see the amount of statements that have been issued, not just by Liverpool, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Porto, his former clubs Diogo Jota, but other Premier League clubs, the Premier League, the FA, the statements that have been made. And in fact the Portuguese Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, said that it is a sad day for football and international sport, which it is, and also it's a sad day for the entire nation of Portugal, bearing in mind this is a player who was almost capped 50 times for his country. Yeah I think anyone that spent any time on social media on Thursday or if you're listening to this

on Friday morning you will have seen so many messages and posts from different players in different parts of the football community coming together to show their support and their sympathy and their love for Diogo and Andres' family. We saw Cristiano Ronaldo's post just saying that it just doesn't make sense and I think that's a feeling that so many people will be sharing as they try to comprehend such sad news. We also got the news that UEFA will be having a moment of silence observed ahead of all of their games on Thursday and Friday at the Women's Euros. As Ian mentioned, Liverpool have made a statement saying they're devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and that they won't be making any further comment at this time and request that the privacy of Diogo and Andres family, friends, teammates and their club staff

is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We also saw a heartfelt statement from the Portuguese national team which said that Jota was not only a fantastic player with almost 50 caps for the national team, but also an extraordinary person who is respected by teammates and opponents alike. A little earlier on today, Five Live presenter Steve Crossman spoke with former Liverpool player Stephen Warnock about how this tragic loss will be felt by so many. It's very difficult to find the words, isn't it, Stephen? But we're going to give it a good go. It's very difficult to find the words, isn't it, Stephen? But we're going to give it a good go.

Shocking, tragic, awful. Yeah, I think that's it in a nutshell, isn't it? I think everyone this morning has probably reacted in the same way. Just absolute shock as to what's happened. Probably an element of hoping it's wrong and the information that was given wasn't right. And then a sense of what the family is going through for the parents to lose the two sons in one fatal accident is just mind blowing really and something that you can't really comprehend and something that you wouldn't really think of. Well, being a dad now and sort of thinking of it from your own personal level is, imagine what those parents are going through right now. It's just absolutely heartbreaking.

And I know like at some point, whether it's in hours or days or weeks, and I don't know the answer to that, you know, we'll talk about Diogo Jota the player and try to find a way to celebrate his life in that way. For now, I think for everybody, it's too raw for that. And it feels more about the person and you obviously know so many people behind the scenes at Liverpool who I'm sure will have only wonderful things to say about him. Yeah I think the people already are talking about him and leaving messages on social media just emphasizing the type of person he was and talking about or mentioning

his characteristics. And I know you don't want to talk about the playing side of things, but I think there is an element of that reflects the other side of his personality is that you saw the smile on his face when he played. He was always that bubbly character, but he was also a fiery person as well on the pitch. So he had that lovely balance. But whenever, and I'm sure there's people in Five Live who've interviewed him, who would say exactly the same, was more than happy to give up his time, was very gracious when he spoke to people, very respectful, but also a very charismatic character around the training

ground and also around the training ground and also around the stadium as well. And I don't think you become a fan's favorite without being that type of person who is likable. He used to live around the corner from where I live now, so I'd see him quite a lot in and around the area. And yeah, always seemed engaging with people, with fans and yeah, from that side of things, just a lovely person. But obviously, yeah, we will speak about his

football in the near future. Yeah, I think what you said is exactly right though, because his personality will obviously be only really known to the people who know him well. But like you say, if that transmits on the pitch and the personality on the pitch reflects the man, then it just allows everybody else a window into what he was like. And I think one more thing that I think we both thought was important to talk about is that, exactly as you said, it's not one person who has tragically died here, it's two people who have tragically died. And I know from the outside, and you will know better than anybody from the inside, as a football club,

Liverpool are a club who, they will do a great job at supporting everybody who needs supporting, whether that's his family or the Liverpool family and that's fans and players and staff, isn't it? Yeah, absolutely. And I think that is something that Liverpool have done extremely well over there, over the past, in the past. However, what I would say is I say the footballer community is an incredible community.

The club's support, or other clubs support already towards what's happened, not just for Dio Ugiota but for his brother Andre, will be forthcoming. It will be there for everyone to see and I'm sure they'll be offering up as much help as they can give and support as they can give and offering up as much help as they can give and support as they can give. And it's the smallest of gestures, really, isn't it? Because no one can bring back the two people, and that's the hard part about it. But what you can do is you can try and support them as much as possible,

but also as well in the right way, enjoy the memories, enjoy the memories that they've both given the families and obviously the football clubs that they've played for. Steve Grossman speaking to Stephen Warnock there. I think it's a really good point, Ian, that at a time where it feels like it's harder and harder for fans to connect with players. As football at times has a risk of feeling a little bit sanitized and maybe there's a little bit of a distance. Some players just have that ability to sort of transcend that gap, to bridge the gap between the concourse and the pitch and he certainly

seemed to have that energy. Well he did because he had a high work ethic and you know whether a Liverpool supporter, a Wolverhampton Wanderers fan or somebody who you know would have seen him playing and he's you know back for Porto, the one thing you can identify with is somebody who gives it their all and Diogo Jota gave it his all. You know, every time you saw him on the pitch, you felt that something was going to happen. You know, he was versatile. He could lead the line, he could play out wide, he had dribbling ability, he used to get the shot away. You always felt when he was on the football field that something was

going to happen. And I think for those reasons alone, the high work ethic, his determination, those levels of desire, supporters will always back any individual with those qualities. And he had those qualities in an abundance. And I think that is probably why the Liverpool supporters took to him, you know, because every time he pulled on the red shirt, you knew what you were going to get from Diogo Jota. Well, let's speak to one of those Liverpool fans now. We can bring in John Gibbons from the Anfield Wrap. Thanks for joining us. Yeah, it's such awful news and the entire football family is grieving today, but I wondered if perhaps you could give us a little insight

into what Diogo Jota meant to the Liverpool fans. Yeah, a huge amount. He's part of two great Liverpool teams now. He played obviously under Jürgen Klopp and was part of that brilliant team in 21-22. He was two games away from winning the quadruple and he was massively important in that team score real big goals it was probably his best season for Liverpool and you know we'll all remember big performances and big sort

of efforts from him Liverpool played so many games that season it felt like Jota especially in the winter when a couple of players when we lost them Salah manateane to Afcon, and he sort of led the line on his own and did the running of Freeman, and that's just what he would do. He'd roll his sleeves up, he'd throw everything in, and the tougher the challenge,

the more you got from him. And then obviously he was a big part of this new Arna slot team as well, and had a few injuries this season, and I'm sure would have liked to have played more but got some big goals for us this season and his last ever goal now for Liverpool will be the winner in the Merseyside Derby and we'll all remember that and it's a classic jotted goal but he just gave you everything and he just, you know, humility is a big thing that I think we asked for in Liverpool. I'm sure we're not alone in that, but you want class players, you want quality, but that quality of humility as well, I think he had it in bucket loads. And I think that's why we sang his songs so much and that's why we loved him so much.

And that's why it's really heartbreaking that, you know, that he's gone and, you know, his family have lost him and as supporters we're not going to be able to, you know, enjoy him and celebrate him and on the pitch obviously we'll celebrate him and what he's done forever. John, it's really lovely that you mentioned his song because that was one of the things that I've seen a lot of today in fans sharing the different places that they've sung it, the different ways that it's been enjoyed but one of the things that stands out the most is him standing in front of the cop singing it with fans which is really really lovely to see as well.

Yeah it's incredible I think when when someone dies who means a lot to you and that could be you know someone very close to you or it could be just someone who you admire a lot. You always think, well, did they know how loved they were and did they know how much he meant or she meant to me or to all of us really? But I think with Diogo, I think he did know, he knew how much he was loved by the fans because of that song and because of everything that he got and you know there's maybe there's bigger stars, bigger names, people on bigger money than Diogo Jota but I don't think anyone quite got his name song just as much as Diogo because you know he of everything that he meant for Liverpool supporters and he got that moment at the end and you could see how much it meant to him and plenty of other times where

where he got it sung as well it was just you know i think he he will he will have known just how much he meant to not just liverpool fans but but other fans who we who we played for as well and and that is some sort of comfort in that really because he brought us so much joy and i think as fans when someone brings you that joy you know you want to find a way to say thank you and to give them some back and we tend to do it through songs and that was a special one and I wouldn't be surprised if it's the first one sung when we kick off next season as well. Can I just come back to that point you made there John about humility. It seems as though

there was a real appreciation, as Ian mentioned and you mentioned a little bit earlier on, for just how much work he did. And I know that might be a very old school characteristic that we in England love in players, but it certainly seems to have endeared him enormously to Liverpool fans. Yeah, 100%. And he gave you everything every time he stepped onto the pitch, but in certain moments he'd give you even more. And that really mattered, I think, to Liverpool fans.

And there was one game that's famous for Liverpool supporters, it won't be too much well known, you know, outside of that really, but it was played Leicester in a League Cup game and we were losing and there was a bit of a sort of a funny atmosphere and the Leicester fans were sort of, you know, giving it a little bit and things like that and Jota didn't take too kindly of it and came on and helped change the game and we won on penalties, he scored the penalty but afterwards, you know, after we scored he was cupping his ears to the Leicester end and all that and it felt like he was almost kind of sticking up for us really, it felt like he was on our side and I was lucky enough to interview him about a month or so later and I asked him

about that and I thought he'd play it down a little bit, you know, like footballers sometimes do and say oh you know, it was each other moment or it was a bit bit, you know, like footballers sometimes do and say, oh, you know, it was each of the moments or, or it was a bit of an offering, but he sort of doubled down really, which surprised me and I really kind of went, no, you know, I was sat on the bench, fuming with them like you were in the stands and I thought if I get on and I scored, you know, I'm going to let them know. And I just, I just loved that about him. It was like, you know, in that moment we were just a couple of Scallies talking about the match, you know, and it was like being with my mates in the pub saying, like, you know what it's like, you know, you're furious with this and not happy with that. And it just, I just felt like I was speaking to one of my mates about going to the game and about,

like, you know, not being happy with what other fans were singing and being delighted that you managed to have the last laugh. And I'll always remember that now. It'll be a really nice memory for me, you know, just sitting there having a laugh with Diogo Giotto about a penalty shootout win against Leicester in the Carabao Cup. You know, it just really showed to me that he understood what football was about and he understood what football meant to people and meant to supporters and he was just the same. He felt like he was just the same as us really and yeah, we're really going to miss him. Tell us a little bit more about meeting him, John. What was he like as a person when you got to sit down with him?

Yeah, really normal. It's funny, isn't it? You've interviewed loads of footballers, Ben, and some of them you meet and they've got a real star quality and you sort of in a bit order them. And then some of them you meet and they haven't really, but they're pretending, you know what I mean? They're giving it the big one and they're a bit full of themselves and you're like, oh, here you you go this is going to be hard work. I remember Diego Jost had just sort of strolled in unannounced and you know we would all take it a bit of back really we were like setting up and normally when he introduced the football and like someone says oh he's coming in now or brings him in and he just sort of like strolled in like he

was going to have a game of FIFA or something and sat down and had his flip flops on and was like, right, what are we talking about? And he was having a brilliant season. It was 21-22 and he was really flying. He was like, he just played a game against Arsenal in the semi-final where we went with a real Thredberg squad and it was a tough game. And it was one of those January, Wednesday nights where it's just horrible as well and go to the emmerit, it's really hard. He scored twice against us. He scored twice and we won 2-0.

And you know he was playing up front with Cade Gordon who was just a kid at the time and he's still young now but again he just took it on himself to win that game for Liverpool and scored a couple of brilliant goals and it it was just after that and his, you know, his, his stock, if you like, couldn't have been any higher really. He was leading the line for Liverpool, you know, Manny and Salah were away and Diaz hadn't signed yet. And, but he was just like, you know, he just strolled in like he was, you know, a lad who you played five or six times earlier.

Then he was like, what do you want to talk about? We talked about his song and we talked about, you know, the season and what it meant for him to play at Wembley that weekend. It was obviously kind of about Cup final. And you forgot, you know, you know, sometimes when you speak to a footballer and you forget just how good they are and how big they are, because they just come across so so normal, so humble to use that word again. And it just felt like talking quite quickly to a friend And you could talk about anything and it was a really it was a really nice time It wasn't he wasn't looking at his watch

You know he wasn't so thinking about how long he was like let's just do it because he he wanted that connection with fans And I think you know you mentioned before I come on Ben about You know sometimes it's hard to have this connection I think more players kind of want it more that would like it more than you sometimes people think certainly if you'd yoga he did but it's it's hard it football's so big now and you know they can't just nip into town and go to the shops it's tricky and so I think with stuff like that he just like talking to fans and there was another really nice moment at the end of the season where BOSS who is a night in Liverpool for supporters and

Jamie Webster was playing and it was a kids one and he did a little video for them after and said oh this is my song now make sure you sing it the loudest and Liverpool arranged that but he was happy to do it because he knew all about these BOSS nights and he was excited for the kids when they did. And afterwards he said, Oh, can you get them to send me the video of them singing it? And so the organizers had to video singing his song to send it by the club to Diego Jota

so he could enjoy this kind of moment. I mean, that sort of sums him up as well. You know, that was the morning of the last game of the season. He was lifting the Premier League trophy that day, but he wanted to see all these, you know, these kids jumping up and down, like learn singing his song. And so I think he was someone who really wanted that connection and really valued that connection and, you know, really wanted to be part of, I think, whatever club he was playing for. And, you know, I've had a really nice,

like, hour or so before this just reading what the Wolves fans said about him and that's quite rare in football now as well. There's so much tribalism and we can all be guilty of it sometimes, only a player leaves you and you turn on him or whatever. So the esteem the Wolves fans still sort of hold him in and I'm sure that's not necessarily the case for everyone who's left Wol Wolves I'm sure there's some who they they like more than others but with Diogo they seem to love him just as much as we do and that just says a lot about him as well you know you can tell you know a lot about someone's character I think by you know based on you know what people

say when you leave as much as when you join and and that just, you know, he clicked with them as well, obviously, and I'm sure it was exactly the same reasons why he clicked with us. Listening to John and the insight that he's offered as to Diogo, the person rather than the player, and just saying what he was saying about the wall supporters, I just think that that's everything that you can identify with for his qualities. I just wonder John, when will, and it might happen at every one of the games I'm about to mention, but Liverpool's first pre-season game is a week on Saturday at Preston, the

first match at Anfield is a pre-season friendly against Athletic, Bilbao in early August, then you've got the Community Shield against Crystal Palace on the 10th of August, and then you open up the Premier League season against Bournemouth on the Friday night on the 15th. Whatever the Liverpool supporters do, whenever they decide to do it as a collective, I know for a fact it will be poignant, it will be emotional, it will be tear-inducing I'm sure, but when do you think the Liverpool supporters will do it or do you think they'll do it every one of those games? I think they'll mark it, like you say Preston's first, Bill Bowe friendly is an Anfield and I'm sure his song will be sung at all of those.

But I think that home game against Bournemouth that you mentioned, I think will be an emotional one because that will feel like really football starting and the season starting and we should have Diogo there with us and we won't. And I think that'll be when people will really want to pay their tributes to him. But also with the awareness that people will be listening, people will be watching. And listen, I can't offer much to Diogo's family. Personally, there's nothing I can say now that's going to make it any easier for them, any better for them. But what we can do is, you know, to try and live the club anthem of you'll never walk alone

and if they are watching that first game and they hear us sing a song, maybe by that point it will offer some comforts, I don't know, you hope so but I think that will be how Liverpool fans will try our best to show Diogo's family, the people who are really close to him and we're really hurting that we're not gonna forget him. Liverpool are good, I think, at a club of remembering the people who gave us everything and meant a lot to us. And listen, I'm not saying other clubs aren't as well,

but I think it's something that we take a lot of pride in. And we won't forget Diogo, we won't forget everything that he did for us, and everything that he characterized as a human being, as a player and all the goals he scored and everything else and the trophies he won and the medals he won and how he carried himself with class. We won't forget that and we'll want to show that and I think Bournemouth will be when we try to do it to our best and hopefully, listen, if that can go out and show people

close to him that we won't forget him then then then sort of all the better really but it'll be for you know his teammates will be hurting as well you know that's his that's his mate you know that for them you know that there'll be he's such a popular guy isn't he that's what's really sort of struck me like you knew he was anyway like no no one's mates with Diogo you know and and everyone liked him and so it'll be it'll be sort of for his teammates as well i think you know hopefully be some comfort you've just got to stick together best you can and that's all you can do you know it's hard it still feels like it's not quite real like i can't believe we're talking about this really and you know it's it's not quite real. I can't believe we're talking about this really. As a club, as a

fan base, as a family, if you want to use that word, you've just got to stick together best you can. John, thank you for joining us and sharing such wonderful memories as well. We really appreciate your time. Top man. Cheers, man. John Gibb is there from the Anfield Wrap and he mentioned how Wolves fans are remembering Diogo Jota today and he's absolutely spot on. It's been amazing to see, having left the club, just how fondly he's remembered and we can bring in a Wolves fan now.

Finn Smith joins us. Finn, thanks for coming on. Hi Ben, thank you for having me. Finn, I don't know if you could hear John there, but one of the things that he was talking about was just how fondly Wolves fans have remembered Diogo Jota even after he left the club. Can you just tell us a little bit about the impact that he had at Molligny? Yeah, that was really lovely to hear then as well, but it's obviously not a fluke, it's obviously the man, the character that he was every club he went to. I've even seen Porto fans today reminiscing online about his very short

time there and the impression he left on everybody. So it shows what I'm about to talk about with Wolves and the impression he left on us. It's yeah, that's him as a man. And to me, I mean, he was sort of my formative years of being a proper Wolves fan, sort of 17, 18 going away. And he swapped the Champions League for the championship for us, which was just crazy. So he took a massive risk, embraced Wolverhampton,

brought his childhood sweetheart over, started his family in Wolverhampton. And looking back today, when it said old Jota spent three years at Wolves, it felt like ten. When you look at what he achieved in those years, we felt like big underdogs at the time. And in three years, he got us promoted, sent us to Wembley, scored our first European goal in 40 years and played really well to get us there in first place. Back-to-back hat-tricks in the Europa League, I think he's the last player

to score a hat-trick for Wolves if I'm not mistaken at Molineux at the very least. So on the pitch, amazing and as you've seen on social media, Wolves members of staff, Wolves players, Wolves fans, he's just idle. And to have ruined so many Wolves days since he's left, to have played so well, I think he's grabbed a goal, a couple of assists, and he gets applauded off every time. I think that's just a testament to the man that he was.

It's so special, isn't it? When you see players still get a reception like that, having left the club, I think it tells you a lot about the type of character that he was. But if you don't mind, Finn, I'd love to go back onto those two hat tricks that you spoke about, because I can remember speaking to you around that time and it just felt like

he was such a key part of why there was such a buzz around that team. Yeah, I mean, that front three, there's a lovely picture that's been going around today of him and Es, a Darmotrae, or and Jota. And I think those three, but maybe even especially him, it just symbolised the time where there's Wolfsans and we don't get it very often. We felt like we could beat anyone. We felt like we could do whatever we wanted. And it was probably down to his tenacity. I always remember the first season to be fair, even going back way before the Europa League run, the first game he had silver on the back of his shirt at the time, same as his brother, I think, because of the EFL,

they don't allow nicknames. So this kid, this Portuguese winger came in and a lot of Wolfs fans and a lot of fans of the EFL were going, oh, another winger, he's not going to like it on the Saturday, Tuesday, or when the late nights draw in, in the winter. And that first game, I remember, I played, I think it may have been whole, the first away game at the very least.

And you saw the center of the box, they kicked in, they were six foot four, they're kicking him. Not only did he not move, he kicked him back. And you're like, oh, hang on, we've got a player here that's not only molded for the championship. He then went on to do it in Europa League and obviously achieved what he did at Liverpool. I think these last couple of months,

you see he's been on top of the world, he had the world at his feet and it's just a real reminder that we need to hug our loved ones extra tight tonight and really appreciate it can happen to anyone at any time. It's been a real tough day in Wolverhampton and as a boy in Liverpool all around the country really, it's a real tough one to even talk about. Thanks for joining us, Finn, and for sharing those memories as well. Thanks, mate. Thanks, Finn. And we can also bring in now Spanish football expert Guillem Balaguez.

Guillem, such awful news today. I just wondered firstly, how are people reacting in Spain? Hi, Van Buen. As you can imagine, it's the kind of thing that is not in the script, is not expected. It just doesn't make sense, as Cristiano Ronaldo said. Looking for the bigger picture for some purposes, Klopp said, no, you cannot find it. So it's been the, as you can imagine, it's been the talk of town. We've been trying on people in the media on one hand get more information about what he was like and give him the right homage and secondly trying to find out as well more detail of what happened. So I think we got more or less to the bottom of it but the most important thing is that we paint the picture of somebody as you've just been describing, somebody who

went through hurdles, big hurdles at the beginning of his career, being signed by Atletico Madrid, almost like a money-making exercise and then moved to Porto. And having been through those clubs, having to go to the championship, I bet it wasn't an easy thing to him. But every move doubled up the cost because people could see the potential until eventually moved to Liverpool for £44 million. And yet, with all the qualities that he had, with all the ability to score goals in important games, the debut against Liverpool in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, etc. Everybody talks about the same thing, those that knew him in the changing room. The ability to make things happen, it was the oil, somebody said to me, the oil

of the machine of whatever changing room he was, either Portugal or Liverpool. He had the capacity to see solutions and no problems. It was a very divisive changing room under Fernando Santos, Portugal, and there were different groups, he belonged to all the groups, and it was a joy, everybody says, to be with him and the kind of guy that you enjoy being part of his company.

Yeah, those words from Jürgen Klopp, for those who haven't seen Jürgen Klopp's message and his post, said he was heartbroken and said, this is a moment where I struggle, there must be a bigger purpose, but I can't see it. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend and loving and a caring husband and father. We will miss you so much and Gim you mentioned there about that period where he had a decision to make with Atletico and I think so many people have spoken about the bravery that he showed on the pitch in terms of the type of player

that he was but also such a huge move to make that decision to go over and play in the championship as well. Yeah, when he was at the Masters de Ferreira, clearly there was a talent there. So he was identified by George Mendes and his group, obviously the biggest representative agent in the world. And that straight away, if you are part of his group of players, conversations go with the biggest clubs. And a lot of the time these clubs give those players an opportunity because Mende says so, because generally there is a potential there that can be converted into good business eventually. And that's what happened. At the Olympic Madrid, he bought it for 7 million euros. It was, I think, a four or five year deal, but straight away Simeone didn't think it was the right player for him. So he went on loan to Porto and he did quite well at Porto. And that's where the opportunity to go to

Wolves and eventually Wolves making him a, I think it was a 14 million pound bid for him, take him, that's where he came from, from his first success at Porto and then at Wolves. But you're right in what you're saying, this was not the usual path. You've been at Porto, you've done well, Atletico Madrid had signed you, you want to stay in the first division, you want to be seen then. But of course, Wolves has got a close relationship with Mendes as well and has been seen in the past as an opportunity, as a platform for players from Portugal to show their ability. He was convinced to do so and he helped Wolves to go into the first division. One of those that privately have been talking about him

is Nuno, who was his manager, and was talking precisely about what an engine he was on the pitch, but off the pitch how useful he was to have him because he was friends with everyone and no high maintenance at all. Ego, very reduced, team effort, team player, and again adaptable. And I think the biggest adaptability of his career is jump from club to club. These clubs played in different ways, but you could even see that Liverpool, Coudinou, where we're joining club, rock and roll football, you know, counter pressing, transitions, good transitions, and Arden Slott comes in and is like, no, I need now more control, more to play between the lines, more structure. And he was able,

as Portuguese players tend to be able to actually adapt to both and do it at a very high standard. Even though he was signed for Liverpool for £44m and Liverpool is not a club that spends a huge amount of money on many players, perhaps they do it more than they used to but in any case, 44 was a lot. He didn't become the superstar that Figa may have suggested but certainly was an absolutely key player for the double of the two Cops and of course for the league last season. And important to mention as well, on the international stage, Guillaume, two times Nations League winner and his final game as a footballer would be that Nations League victory against

Spain. We've seen today the statements coming out from his international teammates are incredibly popular with the international side as well. Yes, the Portuguese Federation cannot talk more highly of his influence. He wasn't part of the captaincy but he was certainly part of the leadership group. If there was anything of the leadership group. If there was anything that had to be transmitted into the side, sometimes he was the one receiving the message because they knew that with him it was going to be coming out in a positive way if you like. Roberto Martinez once or twice spoke about him in the past and he would have heard the news not so long ago because of course he's in the States Roberto Martinez the manager of Portugal and it would have been a complete shock but he always spoke of yet again of his influence with his teammates and and yeah those those words going back to Cristiano staying with Portugal of not making sense

you start thinking of course it doesn't make sense for anybody, but particularly for football players who are at the peak of their powers, at the peak of their youth, completely feeling invincible, capable to do absolutely everything with the world at his feet, personally and professionally. The only end that they could imagine is the end of their careers, but not,

not in the twenties, they're the end of their lives. And the gap that he will leave in the changing room once everybody comes back for the national side, for Liverpool, be a massive one. And with that in mind that I think players contemplate or consider always part of their makeup to be thinking that one day you disappear because as I said their DNA is all about exploiting your youth, your powers and never think of it in a negative way that round the corner at some point right at the end but it's that, the disappearance. Yeah, I think you're spot on, Guillaume. I think this is part of what makes today so difficult to

comprehend for all of us is that we look at these young men as almost invincible because of just how special they are and how much talent they have. Thank you for joining us, Guillaume, and for sharing that with us today. Just before we finish up, you'd imagine now so many tributes to come, particularly for Liverpool fans. Can you just remind us of those games that we'll now see over the course of the next few weeks as Liverpool build back up towards their Premier League season, but also then the other games that they have on the horizon too? I can. In fact Liverpool players are due to begin pre-season training on Monday and that was the reason that Diogo Giotta, it's believed that he was travelling to the port of Santander

in northern Spain when this accident happened, when it had the tyre blow out, overtaking another vehicle, the vehicle catching fire and tragically both he and Andre Silva, his brother, died because BBC Sport had been told that Diogo Giotta had actually undergone minor surgery and doctors had advised against him flying so as a result, you know, he was planning to catch the ferry to return to England. So that will be the first difficult day as a collective group for the Liverpool players because I know from experience with the sad death of George Baldock back in October, speaking to a couple of people who were in the dressing room at Sheffield United with George at the time, you know, in the current, immediately in the aftermath of the death, there is that

state of disbelief, there's a numbness. The players will be talking to each other and recalling their last conversations, but it's only then when you get into the dressing room and you think that's where George would be sitting or that's where Diogo would be sitting, you know. So Monday when they all come together I would imagine that that's going to be a very emotional day but you've then got the first pre-season game a week on Saturday at Preston, the first match at Anfield is the 4th of August against Athletic Bilbao, the Community Shield at Wembley against Crystal Palace is the 10th of August but as as John was saying, I'm sure that the Liverpool supporters will do a fulsome tribute for the Premier League opener at home to Bournemouth on the

15th of August. And Liverpool, for the time being, after their initial statement, I'm sure will come out in the days that lie ahead to maybe say what they're planning on doing in terms of a tribute as well but you can bet your bottom dollar it will be first class. Yeah absolutely right Ian, thank you so much for joining us today and thanks as well to Steve Crossman, to Stephen Warnock, to Finn Smith, John Gibbons and Guillaume Balaguey. That's it for this episode of the Football Daily. Once more, our thoughts with the friends and family of Diogo Jotta, who sadly died today at the age of 28.

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