Spanish Soccer Player Jesús de Miguel Dies at 30 After On-Field Collision
The Tenerife forward passed away in the hospital following a severe impact with Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a second-division match.
Spanish soccer is in mourning following the tragic death of Jesús de Miguel, a 30-year-old forward for Tenerife, who passed away on Tuesday morning, November 3. The fatal incident occurred during a hard-fought second-division match against Andorra played on Monday evening.
The fateful play unfolded in the final minutes of the game with the score tied at 2-2. As Andorra pushed heavily into the attacking half, a Tenerife player cleared the ball deep down the field, launching a rapid counterattack that sent De Miguel racing into open space.
Sensing the immense danger, Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono rushed far out of his goal toward midfield in a desperate attempt to thwart the breakaway. The resulting collision was exceptionally violent, sending De Miguel crashing hard to the turf.
Television footage of the match captured the severity of the impact as the goalkeeper collided at high speed with the oncoming forward. Owono struck De Miguel in the head and upper chest area, a blow that proved to be catastrophic.
The referee immediately issued a red card to the Andorra goalkeeper as players on the pitch realized the extreme gravity of the situation and frantically signaled for medical staff. Paramedics rushed onto the field to administer urgent first aid to the fallen player.
De Miguel was swiftly transported by ambulance to the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital in Santa Cruz, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. While Tenerife initially reported that his condition was stable despite the severity, his neurological status deteriorated overnight.
The club announced his passing on Tuesday morning, expressing profound sorrow and offering condolences to his grieving family. The family subsequently thanked the public for the outpouring of affection and requested privacy during this difficult time.
Tributes also poured in from the Association of Spanish Footballers, where De Miguel served on the board of directors. The organization honored his dedicated advocacy work in protecting and defending the rights of his fellow professional athletes.