Liverpool have confirmed they may retire the No. 20 shirt following the tragic loss of life of Diogo Jota, as an enduring tribute to the much-loved striker.
The membership have introduced the retirement of the No. 20 throughout all ranges in honour of Jota, who handed away alongside along with his brother following a automotive crash in Spain.
It comes after the striker made 182 appearances within the shirt following his transfer from Wolves in 2020, scoring 65 targets and incomes one of many Kop’s catchiest songs.
“Ohhh, he wears the quantity 20,
He’ll take us to victory,
And when he’s operating down the left-wing,
He’ll lower inside and rating for LFC,
He’s a lad from Portugal,
Higher than Figo don’t you realize,
Ohhh, his title is Diogo!”
The No. 20 will ceaselessly be synonymous with Jota and no Liverpool participant will ever take up that shirt quantity once more at any stage, together with within the girls’s and academy sides.
Liverpool’s assertion reads: “It was the quantity he wore with pleasure and distinction, main us to numerous victories within the course of – and Diogo Jota will ceaselessly be Liverpool Soccer Membership’s quantity 20.
“After session along with his spouse, Rute, and household, the membership can announce the squad quantity shall be retired in honour and reminiscence of Diogo throughout all ranges, together with LFC Ladies and Academy.
“The transfer is recognition of not solely the immeasurable contribution our lad from Portugal made to the Reds’ on-pitch successes over the past 5 years, but additionally the profound private affect he had on his teammates, colleagues and supporters and the eternal connections he constructed with them.”
Jota was the ninth participant to put on the No. 20 for Liverpool, following Stig Inge Bjornebye, Nicky Barmby, Anthony Le Tallec, Scott Carson, Javier Mascherano, Jay Spearing, Aly Cissokho and Adam Lallana.
That is the primary time Liverpool have retired a shirt quantity and exhibits not solely how fondly Jota is regarded throughout the membership but additionally how deeply his passing has been felt.
Michael Edwards, FSG CEO of Soccer, added: “As a membership, we have been all aware of the sentiment of our supporters – and we felt precisely the identical method.
“It was vitally necessary to us to contain Diogo’s spouse, Rute, and his household within the choice and to make sure they have 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 are able to say this can be a distinctive tribute to a uniquely great particular person.
“By retiring this squad quantity, we’re making it everlasting – and due to this fact by no means to be forgotten.
“Diogo joined us in 2020, he gained us quantity 20, and he wore – with honour, distinction and affection – the quantity 20.
“So far as Liverpool Soccer Membership is worried, he shall be ceaselessly our quantity 20.”
Ohhh, he wears the quantity 20…
