I thought about this a lot yesterday, as the level of sadness I've been feeling is more akin to what I have felt when losing people close to me. I think I know why.
As Jurgen once said, "Football always seems the most important of the least important things". But it is important if you're a football fan. How many times have you had a bad day, or week, but you knew that your team was playing at the end? And if they win, everything just feels that little bit better. I remember being in a particularly bad head space in 2019 - Madrid helped me turn a corner. Our football teams give us moments of indescribable joy (especially our one), and the players are responsible for those moments of joy. How many other moments in life bring you the explosion of happiness that a last minute winner, a deadlock breaking goal, or a match settling goal brings you? How many times was Diogo responsible for moments like these? Quite a lot.
It goes without saying that our loss as football fans pales into insignificance compared to the devastation his closest loved ones are having to navigate. But I'll miss anyone, or anything that brings me that much joy, greatly. Especially when they're supposed to still be doing it.
That was really beautiful Aaron, summed how and why we are all so heartbroken for a man that didn't know our names, but the but the joy he brought, was something else. The most poignant line, "... especially when they're supposed to still be doing it" Thanks
“I wish I knew Jota as a person. To be fair, I feel like I did. Football is like that sometimes. We’ve lost someone dear to us. Someone important. He didn’t know our names, but we knew his.”
I wrote something starkly similar in the book of condolences yesterday. He was an even better man than he was a footballer, which is saying something. The world is a worse place without him in it.
36 hours after the news and I still feel like a small part of joy has been taken from me and I won’t get it back.
Jota was one of those players whom (outside of the PSG tie last season) I would love to see in the starting XI. He always gave the opposition plenty of needle, and as fans we love that, and you knew that if there was a sniff of goal 9/10 times it’s going in the back of the net.
Loved his celebrations, his turn of pace in the box, the way he could dominate centre backs in the air (seeming to float for a split second). Even the preposterous ways he’d get injured - always seemingly fighting for a lost cause.
There were rumours this summer that he could have been sold to bring in another number 9. Now I don’t usually follow a players career once they leave Liverpool. In fact outside of Robbie Fowler, Danny Murphy and Jari Litmannen, I couldn’t think of any. Yet if Diogo were to leave, I think the way he played would have had me following his career. Probably from the way he played, the journey he’d been on and the person he was.
TAW podcasts are the only audio/visual media about him I have listened to today. I don’t want to watch talking heads and conjecture, I want fans like me to talk about him. It’s cathartic, it’s sad, and it makes you appreciate that little Portuguese wizard a little more.
Diogo Jota’s death hit home a lot for me. Not only because of the player he was but also because of the location it happened.
I will drive my family along that same A-52 road in 2 weeks. I drive that road 3 or 4 times a year on my way to Galicia and it is a good road.
The A-6 out of Madrid to Benavente Is an awful road. It is typically busy and it is bumpy and with curves where the camber going the wrong way on many curves.
Getting off the A-6 and onto the A-52 is a pleasure. The road is smooth and generally very quiet. From KM1 to 99 it is a fairly straight a fairly flat road. To know this was where it was, is a huge shock because the road is benign for a motorway.
That drive this year will have much more significance than other years.
As my wife often says when it is your time, there is nothing that can stop it. It really feels that way with Jota because it makes little sense to try and understand it otherwise.
This piece is beautiful Josh and so fitting on every level. It makes it easier, to hear someone put into words how we're all feeling - to acknowledge the shared grief. Thank you.
I thought about this a lot yesterday, as the level of sadness I've been feeling is more akin to what I have felt when losing people close to me. I think I know why.
As Jurgen once said, "Football always seems the most important of the least important things". But it is important if you're a football fan. How many times have you had a bad day, or week, but you knew that your team was playing at the end? And if they win, everything just feels that little bit better. I remember being in a particularly bad head space in 2019 - Madrid helped me turn a corner. Our football teams give us moments of indescribable joy (especially our one), and the players are responsible for those moments of joy. How many other moments in life bring you the explosion of happiness that a last minute winner, a deadlock breaking goal, or a match settling goal brings you? How many times was Diogo responsible for moments like these? Quite a lot.
It goes without saying that our loss as football fans pales into insignificance compared to the devastation his closest loved ones are having to navigate. But I'll miss anyone, or anything that brings me that much joy, greatly. Especially when they're supposed to still be doing it.
He was our lad from Portugal.
That was really beautiful Aaron, summed how and why we are all so heartbroken for a man that didn't know our names, but the but the joy he brought, was something else. The most poignant line, "... especially when they're supposed to still be doing it" Thanks
Thanks mate, I needed that. I’m sure others will feel the same.
What was the excerpt from?
Thanks again pal. 👊
How to Live by Derek Sivers.
Could use a little more of that at the moment. Thanks mate
You nailed it as good as anyone there mate. Well in.
Thanks Josh for this piece. Loved the excerpt from the book, the paragraph on Nostalgia really struck me.
Thanks Josh - beautifully written, and very poignant.
He didn't know our names - but we knew his, Ohh his name is Diogo.
“I wish I knew Jota as a person. To be fair, I feel like I did. Football is like that sometimes. We’ve lost someone dear to us. Someone important. He didn’t know our names, but we knew his.”
I wrote something starkly similar in the book of condolences yesterday. He was an even better man than he was a footballer, which is saying something. The world is a worse place without him in it.
Beautifully wrote
Lovely piece.
i will reminisce this text you wrote. And Diogo and Andre.
36 hours after the news and I still feel like a small part of joy has been taken from me and I won’t get it back.
Jota was one of those players whom (outside of the PSG tie last season) I would love to see in the starting XI. He always gave the opposition plenty of needle, and as fans we love that, and you knew that if there was a sniff of goal 9/10 times it’s going in the back of the net.
Loved his celebrations, his turn of pace in the box, the way he could dominate centre backs in the air (seeming to float for a split second). Even the preposterous ways he’d get injured - always seemingly fighting for a lost cause.
There were rumours this summer that he could have been sold to bring in another number 9. Now I don’t usually follow a players career once they leave Liverpool. In fact outside of Robbie Fowler, Danny Murphy and Jari Litmannen, I couldn’t think of any. Yet if Diogo were to leave, I think the way he played would have had me following his career. Probably from the way he played, the journey he’d been on and the person he was.
TAW podcasts are the only audio/visual media about him I have listened to today. I don’t want to watch talking heads and conjecture, I want fans like me to talk about him. It’s cathartic, it’s sad, and it makes you appreciate that little Portuguese wizard a little more.
As always, thanks for your words Josh.
Well written sir.
Diogo Jota’s death hit home a lot for me. Not only because of the player he was but also because of the location it happened.
I will drive my family along that same A-52 road in 2 weeks. I drive that road 3 or 4 times a year on my way to Galicia and it is a good road.
The A-6 out of Madrid to Benavente Is an awful road. It is typically busy and it is bumpy and with curves where the camber going the wrong way on many curves.
Getting off the A-6 and onto the A-52 is a pleasure. The road is smooth and generally very quiet. From KM1 to 99 it is a fairly straight a fairly flat road. To know this was where it was, is a huge shock because the road is benign for a motorway.
That drive this year will have much more significance than other years.
As my wife often says when it is your time, there is nothing that can stop it. It really feels that way with Jota because it makes little sense to try and understand it otherwise.
Well written Josh! I’ll keep that excerpt with me.
Very well written, thanks
Lovely piece Josh, such a sad day, RIP Diogo and Andre
This piece is beautiful Josh and so fitting on every level. It makes it easier, to hear someone put into words how we're all feeling - to acknowledge the shared grief. Thank you.
Found the write words for this piece mate and I’ll give that song a listen as well, thank you!
What is the name on the book please?
How to Live by Derek Sivers.
Thank you mate, that’ll certainly be my next read! Keep up the good work with everything👍🏼