Jurgen Klopp recalls Diogo Jota in new biography

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 22 Oct, 12:20 · Archive

Jurgen Klopp has spoken about former Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who died aged 28 in a car crash in 2025.

Diogo Jota, the Liverpool forward, died aged 28 in July 2025 when his hired Lamborghini crashed on a motorway in Zamora, Spain. He was travelling with his brother Andre Silva, 25, a professional footballer, to drop off the car in Santander before returning to the UK by ferry for pre-season training. The crash occurred just 11 days after Jota married his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso at a ceremony in Porto.

Jota had enjoyed a remarkable summer before his death. He had lifted the Premier League title with Liverpool and the Nations League with Portugal. He had chosen to return to the UK by ferry after undergoing minor lung surgery and being advised against flying.

In a new biography titled Diogo Jota: Forever In Our Hearts, his former manager Jurgen Klopp has reflected on the player's career and death. Klopp recalls deciding to sign Jota after watching him play for Wolves. "When Diogo drifted to the left, using his physicality, showing refined technique and tremendous power, I immediately thought: 'I want this player'," Klopp said. He describes spotting qualities in a player's actions that usually reveal their character as a person. Klopp says he has struggled to come to terms with Jota's death.

Rute Cardoso has also contributed to the biography, recalling the events surrounding the crash. She explained that Jota had been surprised by his own decision to rent a Ferrari before the wedding and then a Lamborghini afterwards, as he was not typically interested in fancy cars. Cardoso revealed she had exchanged WhatsApp messages with Jota shortly after he left for Santander with his brother. In her final message, she told him to "keep your eyes on the road".

How it is being reported

• 'Keep your eyes on the road': Diogo Jota's new wife's text message to husband revealed in her heartbreaking account of how tragic Liverpool star's Lamborghini crash death unfoldedIn a new biography about the late Liverpool forward, Cardoso explained she had exchanged messages with Jota shortly after he had left for the Spanish city Santander with his brother Andre Silva.Daily Mail Sport · 22 Oct, 12:04
• Diogo Jota's wife recalls heartbreaking moment she learned of Liverpool star's deathLiverpool forward Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva, 25, tragically died in 2025 as a result of a car crash on a motorway in the Spanish province of ZamoraThe Mirror · 22 Oct, 10:47
• Jurgen Klopp admits he still hasn't come to terms with Diogo Jota's tragic deathIn a new biography of Diogo Jota, the tragic former Liverpool star, his ex-boss Jurgen Klopp reveals he still has not come to terms with the player's death, aged just 28Mirror Sport · 22 Oct, 10:19

In this story: Diogo Jota · Jurgen Klopp · Andre Silva · Rute Cardoso · Liverpool · Wolverhampton Wanderers · Zamora

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