Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp publicly shared his deep personal sorrow over the death of Portuguese international Diogo Jota, whom he considered a family member.
Klopp described the tragic news, which he learned via a morning message from a friend, as impossible to believe. He recalled sitting in stunned silence for a significant period after receiving the update.
The German coach, who now serves as Red Bull’s global director of football, emphasized the profound emotional impact of Jota’s passing. He stated that dealing with such a loss on a personal level was “impossible.”
Jota had been close with teammates such as James Milner and Kostas Tsimikas, according to Klopp. He highlighted Jota as a “very special young man” and an example of unforeseen challenges one must confront.
Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 while Klopp was still manager, scoring 65 goals in 128 appearances. During his time at Anfield, Jota won the FA Cup and League Cup, also reaching a Champions League final under Klopp’s leadership. Klopp departed Liverpool in 2024.