Farewell to de Miguel (†30) – the captain has to interrupt his speech while crying

With tears and chants, fans, team and football celebrities in Tenerife said goodbye to Jesús de Miguel.

At the almost 100-minute memorial service for the late professional from the Spanish second division club CD Tenerife, captain Enric Gallego repeatedly struggled for composure on a stage on the lawn. Behind him in the Spanish club's stadium hung a huge flag with the portrait of his late teammate.

Gallego had to tearfully interrupt his speech several times at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium. He repeatedly addressed de Miguel's partner María and daughter Carla. There was a standing ovation for his words. Club president Felipe Miñambres also had a faltering voice during his speech at the memorial service. Former Real Madrid world-class striker Emilio Butragueño was among the guests.

The fans kept calling de Miguel's name and paying tribute to their deceased favorite with chants. During the minute's silence and the playing of the club anthem, many spectators had tears in their eyes. The CD Tenerife players attended the commemoration dressed all in black.

Cause of death “accidental chest injury”

The 30-year-old de Miguel suffered serious injuries and a cardiac arrest on Monday in a collision with opposing goalkeeper Jesús Owono in injury time of the home league game against FC Andorra. He died in hospital on Tuesday morning.

The preliminary autopsy report names an “accidental chest injury” as the cause of death, as the Canarian newspaper “Canarias7” reported. Owono expressed dismay: “It is difficult for me to find words and it is very difficult for me to even understand what has happened.”

The funeral service for the attacker had already taken place on Thursday in Navahermosa in the province of Toledo, southwest of Madrid. Family, friends and representatives of Spanish football said goodbye there.