Spanish club Tenerife pays tribute to Jesús de Miguel in its first match since soccer player’s death

Spanish soccer club Tenerife honored striker Jesús de Miguel in their opening match following his tragic death on November 3. Midfielder Nacho Gil carried De Miguel's jersey, adorned with his No. 9, during the game, held up shortly before halftime as a tribute. Both Tenerife and Ceuta wore shirts with the phrase "Siempre en nuestro recuerdo" before the match, and players from both teams gathered at midfield for a moment of silence.

After the warmup, Tenerife's captain Enric Gallego placed De Miguel's jersey on the field, with the number 9 engraved on the back. Tenerife went on to secure a 2-0 win, with Neal Viereck scoring the decisive goal in the 40th minute. The game's first minute saw a stoppage, marking De Miguel's shirt number. A mural of De Miguel was painted outside the stadium, and fans had left flowers, scarves, and candles following his death.

De Miguel was fatally struck in the chest by Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a collision near the end of the match on November 2. Owono was suspended for 12 games following a red card for the incident, with the Spanish soccer federation's disciplinary committee ruling that Owono used "excessive force." Owono expressed remorse and offered condolences to De Miguel's family through his club, and Spanish police began an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter.