Liverpool FC wants to honor the memory of its late player Diogo Jota by not reassigning his number 20 jersey. The English champions made the announcement official on Friday evening.
Until recently, it was unclear how Liverpool FC would handle Diogo Jota’s jersey number following his tragic accident. On Friday evening, however, the Reds officially announced that the number 20 will no longer be assigned – in any age group, including women’s and youth teams.
The club came to this decision after consulting with Diogo Jota’s wife Rute and his family. LFC fans had previously expressed this wish loudly. “As a club, we were all aware of our fans’ feelings – and we felt exactly the same way,” said Michael Edwards, CEO of Fenway Sports Group: “It was very important to us to involve Diogo’s wife Rute and his family in the decision and to ensure that they were the first to know of our intention.”
A first in the club’s history
Diogo Jota is the first player in the club’s long history to receive this honor. “We can therefore say that this is a unique tribute to a unique, wonderful person,” Edwards added. “By not reassigning the jersey number, we are making it immortal—and thus forever unforgettable.”
Liverpool is about to resume play. The first test match against Preston North End is scheduled for Sunday. The Reds have already announced several initiatives to commemorate Diogo Jota and his brother.
Among other things, the Liverpool club anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” will be played before kickoff at Preston’s Deepdale Stadium. Preston fans will stand alongside Liverpool supporters for a wreath-laying ceremony.
The first competitive game without the revered Portuguese player will take place on August 10, when Liverpool face FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, coached by Oliver Glasner, in the Community Shield.
