“Jesús leaves a void impossible to fill, but also an immense memory in all of us who have had the good fortune to share our lives with him,” family and friends said in a statement read by representative Manuel Hernández. The football world united on Thursday in the small town of Navahermosa, Toledo, to pay final respects to CD Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel, known as “Demi,” who died Tuesday following a collision during a match.
The parish of San Miguel Arcángel, which serves a population of approximately 3,500, was unable to accommodate the hundreds of mourners who arrived to honor the 25-year-old player. According to reports from El Periódico, the church was filled to capacity, leaving dozens of attendees to follow the service from outside the building. The funeral followed a period of lying in repose at the local municipal funeral home, where teammates and industry figures gathered to offer condolences.
A final journey in Navahermosa
At 2:55 p.m. local time, the hearse arrived at the church, followed by a procession of family, local residents, and high-profile figures from across Spanish football. The ceremony lasted over an hour and concluded with three rounds of applause that were audible outside the church. Following the service, the congregation accompanied the casket to the local cemetery for burial.
The town of Navahermosa has declared three days of official mourning, with flags on municipal buildings lowered to half-mast. While De Miguel was born in Madrid, his family maintains deep roots in the town, where he spent many summers growing up.
Football figures pay respects
The funeral drew significant representation from the highest levels of Spanish football. Among those in attendance were Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, accompanied by Emilio Butragueño and former player Rubén de la Red. The executive officer of Atlético de Madrid, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, was also present, alongside former national team manager José Antonio Camacho and AFE (Association of Spanish Footballers) president David Aganzo.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) was represented by president Rafael Louzán, and national team coach Luis de la Fuente also traveled to Toledo to pay his respects. The delegation from CD Tenerife was led by club president Felipe Miñambres and coach Álvaro Cervera. They were joined by former teammates, including Sevilla’s Giorgi Kochorashvili and representatives from CD Castellón, where De Miguel previously played.
Context of the incident
The tragedy occurred during a match on Monday at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium in Tenerife. During the final minutes of the game, De Miguel suffered a collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono. He lost consciousness on the pitch and suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest. Despite being transported to the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria, he died early Tuesday morning.
Memorial service at Heliodoro Rodríguez López
CD Tenerife has scheduled a public memorial event for this Saturday at 6:00 p.m. local time at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium. The event is open to supporters who wish to honor the player’s memory. The club and the wider football community have remained in a period of mourning since the incident, which has prompted tributes across various Spanish leagues.
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