ARNE SLOT has paid an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota following the tragic news of the Liverpool star’s death.
Jota died in a car accident on Thursday while driving through Zamora, Spain with his younger brother, Andre Silva.
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Tributes poured in from across the world of sport, not just football.
His club described the loss of the 28-year-old as “devastating”.
Manager Slot has now penned his own heartfelt tribute for the Portuguese footballer, saying he was “loved by all”.
In a tribute shared on Liverpool’s website, Slot, 46, said: “What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not.
“All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.
“My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.
“My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone. The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football.
“This is not solely a response to tragedy. It is also a reaction to the goodness of the people involved and the respect that so many have for the boys as individuals and for the family as a whole.
“For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a team-mate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special.”
Slot went on to praise Jota’s humble nature, never seeking popularity but finding it, and befriending everyone as someone who made others feel good about themselves.
The Dutchman also highlighted the late attacker’s hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, and goals as a player.
He then revealed his final conversation with Jota was to congratulate him for Portugal’s victory in the Uefa Nations League and wishing him luck for his wedding.
Dad-of-three Jota had married his high school sweetheart Rute Cardoso just 10 days before his heartbreaking passing.
Slot continued: “When I first came to the club, one of the first songs I got to know was the one that our fans sing for Diogo.
“I had not worked with him previously but I knew straight away that if the Liverpool supporters, who have seen so many great players over the years, had such a unique chant for Diogo, he must have special qualities.
“That we have lost those qualities in such terrible circumstances is something we have not yet come to terms with.
“For this reason, we need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves.”
Slot rounded out his tribute by paying his respects to Jota’s family and declaring that he will never be forgotten.
He added: “My condolences go to Diogo’s wife, Rute, their three beautiful children and to the parents of Diogo and Andre Silva.
“When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song.
“For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten. His name is Diogo.”
Tributes also poured in from colleagues past and present.
Former manager Jurgen Klopp said: “This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can’t see it!
“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre.
“Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!
“All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them! Rest in peace – Love J.”
Team-mate Andrew Robertson said: “The ones I’m thinking about most right now are the family. Their loss is too much to bear. I’m so sorry that they have lost two such precious souls – Diogo and Andre.
“For the team and the Club, we’ll try to cope with this together… however long that takes. For me, I want to talk about my mate. My buddy. The bloke I loved and will miss like crazy.
“I could talk about him as a player for hours, but none of that feels like it matters right now…
“I can’t believe we’re saying goodbye. It’s too soon, and it hurts so much. But thank you for being in my life, mate – and for making it better. Love you, Diogo.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold, who held a minute’s silence alongside his Real Madrid team-mates in training, said: “It’s so difficult to find the right words when your head and heart are struggling to accept that someone you care so much about has gone.
“Diogo, your family was your world. They were everything. For Rute, his children, and his parents, all of our hearts are broken. And for Andre as well. Brothers and best friends.
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“When it’s less painful, I want to remember Diogo with a big smile. So many laughs and happy moments. He was such a great teammate and a true friend. Forever number 20. Rest in peace, Diogo.”
The club have also opened a condolence book for fans to pay their respects both at Anfield and online.
Arne Slot’s Diogo Jota tribute in full
What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not.
All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.
My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.
My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone. The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football.
This is not solely a response to tragedy. It is also a reaction to the goodness of the people involved and the respect that so many have for the boys as individuals and for the family as a whole.
For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a team-mate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special.
I could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it. Hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, goals. The essence of what a Liverpool player should be.
There were also the parts that not everyone got to see. 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. A person who cared deeply for his family.
The last time we spoke, I congratulated Diogo on winning the Nations League and wished him luck for his forthcoming wedding. In many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this.
When I first came to the club, one of the first songs I got to know was the one that our fans sing for Diogo. I had not worked with him previously but I knew straight away that if the Liverpool supporters, who have seen so many great players over the years, had such a unique chant for Diogo, he must have special qualities.
That we have lost those qualities in such terrible circumstances is something we have not yet come to terms with. For this reason, we need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves.
My condolences go to Diogo’s wife, Rute, their three beautiful children and to the parents of Diogo and Andre Silva.
When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten.
His name is Diogo.
