This Friday, the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium witnessed one of the most moving and saddest days in the history of Spanish football. The match between Sevilla and Deportivo Alavés became the first LaLiga game to pay tribute to Tenerife player Jesús de Miguel.
After the Sevilla centenary anthem was played, both teams and the refereeing crew took the field together, wearing white shirts with Jesús de Miguel's name and the number 9 he wore at Tenerife. They also carried a bouquet of blue and white flowers, which they placed on the turf before embracing in the center circle. Before the referee blew the whistle for kickoff, the stadium observed a minute of silence for Jesús de Miguel in a solemn atmosphere, followed by a standing ovation from the entire crowd.
Tribute in the 9th minute
As planned, a second tribute to Jesús de Miguel took place after the match began. In the 9th minute of the first half, at the first moment play allowed, the game was paused for another minute of silence. The big screen at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium showed images of the player, and applause once again rose from the stands.
Sevilla and Deportivo Alavés thus bid farewell to Jesús de Miguel together, offering their full support to his family, friends, and Tenerife fans. In the coming days, further tributes will be held at matches across Spanish football to honor his memory.