Diogo Jota: 5 Times Clubs Retired Jersey Numbers as Liverpool Honour Fallen Star
- Liverpool have announced that their number 20 shirt will be permanently retired in honour of Diogo Jota
- Jota lost his life alongside his brother in a fatal road accident on July 3, along the A-52 highway in Spain
- We take a look at other times clubs have retired their shirt numbers in honour of their players after Liverpool's incredible gesture
Liverpool have confirmed that they will retire their number 20 shirt in honour of Diogo Jota, who passed away earlier this month.
Source: Getty Images
Jota was tragically killed in a car crash alongside his brother, Andre Silva, in northwestern Spain.
The Portuguese winger died only a few weeks after helping Liverpool win the 2024/2025 title - the 20th in their rich history.
What does it mean to retire a shirt number?
To retire a number essentially means to remove it from the list of choices available to future players.
It is done as an honour to the player who wore it last, either as his outstanding contribution to the team's success, a tragedy or any other reason a club deems fit.
"After consultation with his wife, Rute, and family, the club can announce the squad number will be retired in honour and memory of Diogo across all levels, including LFC Women and Academy," read Liverpool's statement.
"It was the number he wore with pride and distinction, leading us to countless victories in the process – and Diogo Jota will forever be Liverpool Football Club’s number 20."
Other times clubs retired jersey numbers
It is a tradition that has been practised since time immemorial in football. We take a look at some of the numbers that were retired by clubs.
1. Jude Bellingham - Number 22 at Birmingham City
So good was Jude Bellingham that when he left Birmingham City at the age of 17, the club made the unprecedented decision to retire his number, as reported by Sky Sports.
He sealed the most expensive transfer of a 17-year-old to Borussia Dortmund. He has since moved on to Real Madrid, where he has established himself as one of the best players in his position in the whole world.
2. Marc-Vivien Foe - Number 23 at Manchester City
Foe's story was as tragic as Jota's after the Cameroon star collapsed during a game for his country against Colombia in the Confederations Cup.
Efforts to resuscitate him at the stadium's medical facility proved futile. An autopsy later revealed that he had a hereditary heart-related condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
The defensive midfielder had been on loan at Manchester City from Lyon at the time of his death. The Citizens retired his number 23 shirt.
3. Emiliano Sala - Number 9 at Nantes
The transfer that never was. Sala had just completed a huge move from French club Nantes to Cardiff City in 2019.
After his medical in Cardiff, he returned to France to say his goodbyes to his teammates before linking up with his new team two days later.
Source: Getty Images
However, the plane he boarded back to Cardiff disappeared somewhere in Alderney. His body was found 16 days later after an extensive search.
Nantes retired his number 9 shirt.
4. Diego Maradona - Number 10 at Napoli
Diego Maradona is widely considered one of the best players in history. He had a successful stint at Napoli, where he led them to the Scudetto in 1987 and 1990.
The Partenopei retired his shirt in 2000.
Argentina also tried to retire his number 10, but FIFA turned down their request. Maradona died in 2020.
5. George Baldock - Number 32 at Panathinaikos
George Baldock was found dead in his swimming pool in his Glyfada house in Greece on October 9 last year.
Greek authorities ruled out any foul play and concluded the former Sheffield United star had died as a result of drowning.
His club, Panathinaikos, decided to retire his number 32 shirt.
Eyewitness refutes police report in Diogo Jota death
In a separate report, an eyewitness has disputed the police statement on what happened to Diogo Jota and his brother.
The eyewitness, a truck driver, said he was on the road when the two brothers overtook him.
Police have ruled that it was Jota who was driving at the time of the accident.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
