00:00Let's turn to the very sad, tragic news that is affecting the world of soccer this evening, the death of Diogo Jota.
00:08The Liverpool and Portugal forward was killed in a car crash alongside his own brother in northern Spain.
00:13It's understood Jota and his brother were in a Lamborghini car making their way to board a ferry so Jota could get back to Liverpool for pre-season training.
00:22A tyre burst causing the car to leave the road, this according to local police in northern Spain, and it burst into flames on impact.
00:30An absolute tragedy. Jota won the Premier League of Liverpool last season.
00:34He married Ruta Cardoso, his childhood sweetheart and mother of their three children, on June the 22nd this year.
00:41So much to live for. Diogo Jota dead at the age of just 28.
00:45With tyre marks and the charred remains of a vehicle, this isolated highway in northern Spain is where footballer Diogo Jota and his brother died in a car accident.
00:59Police say Jota's Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames just after midnight Thursday, adding initial evidence suggested the car suffered a burst tyre.
01:0828-year-old Jota and 25-year-old Andre Silva, also a football player, were the only ones inside.
01:16Jota's death comes less than two weeks after he married his long-time partner, writing in a social media post, Yes to Forever.
01:24They have three children, the youngest born last year.
01:27It's prompted an outpouring of grief from Jota's former teammates like Cristiano Ronaldo,
01:32who said his death didn't make sense and sent his condolences to the football player's family.
01:38Liverpool fans, meanwhile, laid flowers, cards and photos at Anfield Stadium.
01:44The way he played football with a smile on his face all the time, he was the epitome of enjoying what you do.
01:49Every time he went out on the pitch, he gave us all for us.
01:53You don't know these people personally, but when you do lose somebody in this fashion, it's devastating.
02:00Born in the Portuguese city of Porto, Jota started playing football in local professional leagues before moving to the English club Wolverhampton in 2017.
02:10The forward joined Liverpool in 2020, winning three major trophies with the club, including the Premier League title last season.
02:18Jota also played for Portugal's national team and helped them win the Nations League last month.
02:24Karis Garland, now let's get a knowledgeable fan's perspective on this tragedy.
02:31We've got all the tributes coming in, as we heard there from Karis in her piece, Cristiano Ronaldo, among others.
02:38Richarlison, another one, Brazil's centre-forward.
02:40Let's now bring in by phone Keith Corcoran.
02:43Now, Keith Corcoran is a lifelong Liverpool fan.
02:45Keith, in the early days, watched Liverpool from the famous Cop and travelled home and away to see the Reds' triumph over the years.
02:52These images we show you now show the kind of company that Keith now gets to keep on match days.
02:57These photos with former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and midfielder Harby Elliott show the proximity that Keith and his friends have to the squad due to their stature within the club now.
03:06Keith, thank you for joining us.
03:08This is an incredibly sad day for Liverpool fans, for fans of football across the world.
03:13The images we saw show you close to Klopp, close to Harby Elliott, but obviously you've spent time speaking to Diogo Giotta as well.
03:21Sadly, no photograph, but you've chatted with him many times.
03:25Give us a sense of the kind of person that Diogo Giotta was.
03:30Well, Mark, he was such a gentle person, always had a smile on his face.
03:36A time for people, really, really respectful man.
03:39It's just an absolute tragedy and such a sad loss.
03:44We've lost such a wonderful person.
03:48You're at a charity event, I know, with your good friend Brian Duffy and a lot of people involved in your circle watching Liverpool Football Club are there tonight.
03:58I imagine that among all of you, there's a huge sense of sadness.
04:03Oh, Mark, it's unbelievable.
04:06I mean, I'm in the presence of old Mac Bay, say Brian Duffy, Jamie Webster, and the talk is just constantly about Diogo.
04:15So, Jamie spent a lot of time with Diogo and he's just endorsed exactly what I said before, what a wonderful, loving person he was.
04:28It's such a tragedy, Mark.
04:31How important a footballer was he for Liverpool Football Club, in your opinion?
04:35Oh, incredible.
04:37I mean, anybody who scores in his first four home games to Liverpool FC and scores the opening goal on the season for Arnie Slott in his first game against Dave Switch,
04:49what he brought to the team was immense.
04:52I mean, I know he had his injury problems, but we just take the Everton game and Salah scored two.
05:00But the constant threat that night that caused all the issues to the Everton side was Diogo.
05:07He was immense and that's what he did.
05:10Whether he was playing up front, whether he dropped into the midfield, he would chase.
05:15He was a brilliant footballer.
05:17He was good in the air.
05:18He was good on the ground.
05:20And in my opinion, he was the best in the six-yard block box under the current squad.
05:27I just loved the bones of him.
05:29He was brilliant.
05:31I remember the game.
05:32I was with you at the game you've just been speaking about.
05:35And what struck me about Diogo Jota was the fact that his work enabled the likes of Salah and all the other stars at Liverpool Football Club to actually excel
05:44because he was creating so much space because of what he did.
05:47A very selfless player in many ways, but capable, as you say, of scoring the goals when it counts.
05:5328 years old he was.
05:56It's no age to die.
05:57No age at all.
06:00And on top of that, his brother dying with him, Andre.
06:03Andre, I'm not too familiar with Andre, but what a tragedy.
06:09It's just so saddening.
06:11The family have lost not one son, two sons, both apparently brilliant footballers.
06:18I can only speak on behalf of Diogo because I've seen him play that many times.
06:23He was amazing.
06:25Absolutely amazing.
06:27It's so sad, Mark.
06:28So sad.
06:29We're seeing, as you're speaking to us, Brian, the images from Anfield, tributes being laid.
06:34We're seeing Everton shirts there too.
06:37It's a sense of fans coming over to pay their respects.
06:41A Wolverhampton Wanderers shirt too is something I've seen as well.
06:43That, of course, is first club in England.
06:47In the Liverpool team, he wears the number 20 jersey, Keith.
06:50What happens to that jersey now?
06:51Do you have any sense, being an insider at Liverpool, what might happen to that shirt?
06:56Might he be retired?
06:57Well, recently at a Jamie Webster concert, Diogo has a famous song, and it's called the number 20.
07:09And that was the shirt he wore, and it was voted as the best player song that Liverpool had.
07:16I think now, going forward, the club should retire that shirt.
07:20That is Diogo's, and it will never be worn by anybody else.
07:24It's, in my eyes, he's a legend.
07:29And, as you just said, then, the city of Liverpool and the football community in general,
07:34we're just all deeply saddened.
07:37The tributes that are pouring in for clubs like Everton, Manchester United, Chelsea,
07:42they're just amazing.
07:44It just shows what a wonderful player and a wonderful person he was.
07:49Just flags are flying in the city, a half-mask.
07:52And it's beyond belief.
07:57Honestly, the community just can't believe that they've lost such a talented footballer
08:05who had everything going forward for them.
08:08You know, you just look at what he said recently.
08:11He's the luckiest, happiest man in the world when he recently got...
08:14And, Keith, fair to say that his family, who he leaves behind, a very young family,
08:20they will never walk alone.
08:21They'll always have the support of Liverpool FC and the fans.
08:26They'll have every support.
08:28Honestly, the community, the city, the club will embrace them with open arms.
08:34They will always be a part of our family.
08:37As you say, Mark, they'll never walk alone.
08:41Keith Corcoran, lifelong Liverpool fan.
08:44Thank you very much for sharing these thoughts with us.
08:47I know it's tough and people perhaps don't understand,
08:50but football is very much a family affair in Liverpool,
08:54and we take it all to heart.
08:56And thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
08:58And I give my best to Brian and all the team there,
09:01and I hope you have a good evening.
09:02And continue raising money for that charity you're supporting tonight.
09:06Keith Corcoran.
09:07As you say, Mark.
09:09Go ahead.
09:10What a wonderful charity as well.
09:12I mean, it's the old Macfay Foundation,
09:15and poor Owen, he died from leukaemia in 2015.
09:20And his parents, Joe and Mark, set up this charity.
09:26And it would have been his 21st birthday this year,
09:28but his memory is just kept alive by the foundation.
09:33And it's magical memory for children who are suffering with cancer.
09:38And together with the Liverpool Foundation,
09:40they do so much for this city.
09:43And I'm sure, like what's happened with Diogo,
09:47they will bring the memory back to Liverpool Football Club.
09:52Nobody associated with this club who's passed away
09:56will ever be forgotten.
09:58Keith, we need to leave it there.
09:59Thank you so much again,
10:01and give my regards to everybody where you are.
