Liverpool have announced that they are retiring the No 20 shirt in memory of Diogo Jota who died in a car crash last week, with his brother Andre Silva also losing his life.
The Reds made the decision after consulting with Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso and his family.
The No 20 shirt will be retired across all levels of football at the club, meaning the the women’s team and throughout the various age groups of their academy.
In a statement on their club website, Liverpool announced: ‘The move is recognition of not only the immeasurable contribution our lad from Portugal made to the Reds’ on-pitch successes over the last five years, but also the profound personal impact he had on his team-mates, colleagues and supporters and the everlasting connections he built with them.’
Jota and his younger brother, Andre – who was 26 and also a professional footballer from the Portuguese second division – were killed when their Lamborghini veered off the A‑52 motorway near Cernadilla following a tyre blowout while they were overtaking.
Recently, Jota had celebrated marrying his long‑time partner Cardoso. The couple have three young children.
Since joining Liverpool in 2020, he scored 65 goals in 182 appearances and helped win the Premier League last season as well as the FA Cup, and two League Cups.
Diogo Jota was a ‘uniquely wonderful person’
‘As a club, we were all acutely aware of the sentiment of our supporters – and we felt exactly the same way,’ said Michael Edwards, Fenway Sports Group CEO of Football.
‘It was vitally important to us to involve Diogo’s wife, Rute, and his family in the decision and to ensure they were the first to know of our intention.
‘I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club’s history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person.
‘By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal – and therefore never to be forgotten.
‘Diogo joined us in 2020, he won us number 20, and he wore – with honour, distinction and affection – the No 20.’
