An island in mourning: Tenerife processes death of De Miguel

By

Spanish football reporter in Tenerife

As you arrive on the holiday island of Tenerife, there is a profound sense of grief, pain and disbelief at the death of footballer Jesus de Miguel.

The Canary island is in mourning for the Tenerife striker, who died from injuries sustained in a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a match on Monday.

The 30-year-old had quickly established himself as a club favourite, scoring 11 goals in his first season as Tenerife were promoted to the second tier of Spanish football.

But now the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez Stadium has become a shrine to the player, with hundreds of people gathering throughout the past few days to lay flowers, light candles and pay their respects.

Bouquets, rosettes sent by clubs from across Spain, prayer cards, photographs, children's drawings and scarves have been laid around the grounds outside gate nine.

It is a deeply moving scene. Fans and residents stand in silence, taking in the tributes.

Many are visibly tearful as the scale of the loss begins to sink in at the very place the incident happened.

Among those paying their respects were Lisa and Lee, visiting Tenerife from Stoke-on-Trent.

They had arrived on holiday at the weekend and decided to attend Monday's match, hoping to experience Spanish football for the first time.

"We never expected something like this to happen," they told BBC Sport.

"We knew it was serious when the players surrounded him [De Miguel], but to see players crying and actually praying on the pitch was very emotional.

"When we found out the news the next day, it just really hit us."

The couple described the atmosphere inside the stadium as sombre and almost completely silent as spectators waited to understand what was happening.

"You always expect somebody to pull through," Lee said. "And then seeing the news the next day, it was just unbelievable."

They returned to the stadium on Wednesday to lay a Port Vale shirt among the tributes, wanting to show their support for the Tenerife community.

"Football has no colours," Lisa said. "If it was one of our players, we'd be heartbroken. They're part of your family."

For Carlos, a player with Tenerife's disability side Tenerife Foundation, the loss is particularly personal.

"Honestly, there are no words to describe him. He was incredible," Carlos said as he lay a flag on the ground.

He described De Miguel as a figure who had helped shape the club's recent history.

"He practically gave his heart and soul for the shirt. He's already a legend at the club because, after all, we were in a very difficult position a few years ago and he helped pull us out of it.

"Without him, I don't think we would be where we are today."

Carlos was at Monday's match and said he was left in shock by what unfolded.

"When I left the stadium I was trembling and I continued to feel that way for hours.

"Right now, we're incredibly hurt and very sad. I also want to send my support to his family, who I can only imagine must be absolutely devastated."

The sense of loss has extended far beyond the stadium.

Poli Suarez, the Canary Islands' minister for education and sport, said Tenerife was in "complete mourning".

"Canarian sport has been left devastated," Suarez told BBC Sport. "The club is broken. Absolutely heartbroken."

Suarez also stressed that the thoughts of everyone were with De Miguel's wife, daughter and wider family.

"They are the ones suffering most directly from this loss, just as the Tenerife supporters are suffering," he said.

The government has pledged its support to the club, players and supporters, with Suarez describing De Miguel as a footballer who had become part of the Canary Islands' sporting history.

"The loss of Jesus de Miguel is now part of our history," Suarez said.

"Not only because of the circumstances of his death, but also because of the affection he always showed towards our island and towards his club."

A further tribute is planned for Saturday at 18:00 GMT, with supporters encouraged to come together to honour his memory.

"It will be an opportunity to show our affection and emotion, and to demonstrate our solidarity with the family," Suarez said.

"We want to show all our affection for Jesus de Miguel."