Liverpool have confirmed they are going to retire the No.20 shirt in honour of ahead Diogo Jota, who died in a automotive crash alongside his brother, André Silva, final week.
Jota wore the No.20 during his time at Anfield after signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020.
Now, following session along with his spouse, Rute, and household, the membership have introduced Jota’s squad quantity will probably be retired throughout all ranges, together with LFC Girls and Academy.
The transfer is designed not solely to recognise Jota’s contribution on the pitch but additionally the private influence he has had on these related with the soccer membership throughout his 5 years on Merseyside, the membership stated.
“As a membership, we had been all aware of the sentiment of our supporters — and we felt precisely the identical approach,” Michael Edwards, CEO of Soccer for Liverpool house owners Fenway Sports activities Group, stated in an announcement Friday.
“It was vitally necessary to us to contain Diogo’s spouse, Rute, and his household within the determination and to make sure they had been the primary to know of our intention.
“I imagine that is the primary time in Liverpool Soccer Membership’s historical past that such an honour has been bestowed upon a person. Due to this fact, we will say this can be a distinctive tribute to a uniquely great individual.
“By retiring this squad quantity, we’re making it everlasting — and subsequently by no means to be forgotten.
“Diogo joined us in 2020, he gained us quantity 20 (Liverpool’s twentieth English league title), and he wore — with honour, distinction and affection — the quantity 20.
“So far as Liverpool Soccer Membership is worried, he will probably be ceaselessly our quantity 20.”
Liverpool are set to play their first recreation since Jota’s loss of life — a pleasant in opposition to Championship aspect Preston North Finish — on Sunday.
The Premier League champions’ first preseason pleasant of the summer season may embrace a number of first-team gamers, who reported to coaching on Tuesday.
The preliminary deliberate return to preseason coaching was delayed, with many gamers having attended Jota’s funeral in Portugal final Saturday.