CD Tenerife faces an unprecedented crisis following the tragic death of player Jesús de Miguel after a fatal challenge by Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium, leaving the club and its locker room grappling with profound grief and looking for professional help to handle the immediate aftermath.
Felipe Miñambres, of Tenerife, acknowledged the severity of the situation in the hours following the tragedy, as reported by MARCA. He stated that the club needs professional assistance to support the players, their families, and staff through a scenario unlike any the organization has faced before.
Coping with the Empty Locker Room Syndrome
Sports psychologist José Antonio Luengo, who was part of Getafe CF when player Sebas was shot and killed in Castellón in August 2001, emphasized that the grieving process cannot be rushed. Luengo introduced the concept of the empty locker room syndrome, explaining that while the physical absence of Jesús de Miguel will generate immense pain, it will ultimately serve as a vital factor in binding the squad together.
Luengo recommended holding group sessions where players can openly express their emotions, cry together, and share their feelings without fear of containment. He also advised building a support network around team captains and mature veterans to protect the squad during its most vulnerable moments while maintaining sensitive contact with the player’s family.
Lessons from Past Tragedies in Spanish Football
Former Sevilla defender Julien Escudé recalled the profound impact of Antonio Puerta’s death in August 2007, noting that the tragedy ultimately united the Sevilla fanbase and created a lasting bond within the club. Escudé pointed out that the shock of losing a teammate immediately shifts a player’s focus far away from competitive athletics, initiating a prolonged mourning period.
Miguel Morilla, a sports psychologist who assisted Sevilla during the Puerta tragedy, explained that grief is deeply individual and dictated by a person’s relationship with the deceased and their personal coping strategies. Morilla cautioned against offering platitudes like “be strong” or “don’t cry,” arguing instead that shared suffering is minimized when individuals are allowed to pass through the natural phases of denial, rebellion, and eventual acceptance.
Reflecting on a different perspective, former Espanyol player Moisés Hurtado recalled that following the death of Dani Jarque in August 2009, the club did not implement formal group therapy. Hurtado noted that some players, including himself, processed the tragedy internally through introspection, demonstrating that there is no single correct path for a locker room to rebuild after a catastrophic loss.
Respecting Diverse Emotional Responses Within the Squad
David Peris, president of the Spanish Federation of Sports Psychology, noted that returning to training and competing without a teammate requires respecting diverse emotional responses within the squad. Peris emphasized the importance of allowing players to deselect themselves from activities if they feel unable to play, while encouraging coaches to lean on mental health professionals to guide the recovery process naturally.
In response to the tragedy, Tenerife requested the postponement of its upcoming fixtures against Granada in the league and Badajoz in the Copa del Rey, scheduled for November 7 and November 10 respectively, as fans continue to leave floral tributes outside the stadium in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
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