Liverpool has officially retired the No. 20 shirt in memory of Diogo Jota, who died last week in a vehicle tragedy with his brother, André Silva.
Jota wore the No. 20 jersey while he played at Anfield after coming from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020. After talking with his wife, Rute, and his family, the club decided to retire Jota’s number at all levels, including LFC Women and the Academy.
The club said that this was done to celebrate not only Jota’s work on the pitch, but also the personal impact he had on everyone at the club during his five years in Merseyside. “As a club, we all felt the emotions of our supporters — and we shared those feelings,” said Michael Edwards, CEO of football for Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, in a statement released on Friday.
“It was important for us to include Diogo’s wife, Rute, and his family in this decision, making sure they were the first to know about our plans. I think this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club’s history that such an honor has been given to someone. So, we can say this is”
As a club, we were all acknowledge the emotions of our supporters — and we shared those feelings,” said Michael Edwards, CEO of football for Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, in a statement released on Friday.
By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal. It will never be forgotten.”
“Diogo joined us in 2020, played a key role in helping us win number 20 [Liverpool’s 20th English league title], and wore — with pride, distinction, and love — the number 20. As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will always be our number 20.”
Liverpool are set to play their first game since Jota died on Sunday. a friendly match against Championship team Preston North End on Sunday.
The champions of the Premier League are about to start their first preseason friendly this summer, and we might see a few first-team players who started training again on Tuesday.
The initial planned return to preseason training was delayed, but it got pushed back as a result of Jota’s tragic death with many players attending Jota’s burial in Portugal on Saturday.
