Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has described the death of Spanish footballer Jesus de Miguel as shocking, expressing condolences to the late Tenerife striker’s family and acknowledging the difficult situation facing the goalkeeper involved in the fatal collision.
De Miguel, 30, died on Tuesday, November 3, after suffering a cardiac arrest following a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a Spanish second-division encounter on Monday.
The incident occurred towards the closing stages of the match at Tenerife’s Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez Stadium, where Owono rushed out of his goal to clear a long ball but collided heavily with De Miguel.
The striker collapsed following the impact and received emergency medical attention on the pitch before being taken to hospital.
Owono was immediately shown a red card, while the match, which was tied at 2-2, was eventually abandoned.
According to reports, De Miguel suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest and was resuscitated before being admitted to intensive care. His condition subsequently deteriorated, and Tenerife confirmed his death on Tuesday morning.
Reacting to the tragedy during his pre-match press conference ahead of Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League encounter against AEK Athens, Mourinho said the incident had deeply affected the football community.
“I think it’s something very shocking for the world in general, so imagine for the world of football, for people like us who are on the pitch competing every day,” the Portuguese manager said.
“It’s hard, it’s sad. Obviously, all our words and feelings go out to the family and friends of the player who passed away.”
The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manager also expressed sympathy for Owono, acknowledging the psychological burden the incident could place on the goalkeeper.
“I also think this has to be a very, very, very difficult moment for the other player involved in the situation.
“It’s sad for everyone,” he added.
Mourinho’s comments came as Real Madrid observed a minute’s silence before their training session on Tuesday in honour of the deceased footballer.
The Spanish club also issued a condolence message, expressing solidarity with De Miguel’s family, teammates, Tenerife and everyone affected by his death.
The tragedy has generated widespread reactions across Spanish football, with clubs and football authorities expressing condolences.
Tenerife confirmed the striker’s death in an emotional statement, describing the development as devastating and asking the public to respect the privacy of his grieving family.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation also announced the postponement of its scheduled Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina matches on Tuesday as a mark of respect.
The incident has also attracted the attention of Spanish authorities, with police opening proceedings to examine the circumstances surrounding the footballer’s death.
De Miguel joined Tenerife in 2025 after previously representing Castellon, where he played an important role in the club’s promotion to Spain’s second division.
His death has renewed attention on the risks footballers face during competitive matches and the emotional consequences of serious on-field accidents for players and their opponents.
Away from the sombre subject, Mourinho also addressed Real Madrid’s preparations for Wednesday’s Champions League fixture against AEK Athens in Greece.
The Portuguese manager confirmed that Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior would start the encounter despite serving a four-match domestic suspension.
Mourinho explained that the availability of several quality attacking players was an advantage rather than a selection headache.
He mentioned Yan Diomande, Brahim Diaz and Endrick among the options available to him, noting that several could operate on either wing.
“Having many players is never a problem for me, the problem is having few,” he said.
However, Mourinho identified Vinicius as the player most naturally suited to the left-wing position.
“Vini, of all of them, is the one who is best suited to play on the wing, on the left wing. We know that,” he added.
Real Madrid head into the encounter with nine points from their opening three Champions League matches, seeking another victory to strengthen their position in the league phase.
Editorial verification note: The death, age, club, date, match circumstances and Mourinho’s comments are corroborated by contemporary reporting and Real Madrid’s official press conference report. The goalkeeper’s involvement should be described as a collision during play, not an established intentional act. Spanish police proceedings should not be presented as proof of criminal responsibility.
