Lorraine Williamson
Spanish football is mourning the death of CD Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, who died on Tuesday morning after a collision with an opposing goalkeeper during a second-division match. The 30-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest following the incident and was taken to hospital, where he remained in intensive care overnight.
CD Tenerife confirmed that De Miguel died at 8.00 am on Tuesday, 3 November, at the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from clubs, players and football authorities across Spain, while raising questions about the circumstances of the collision.
In an official statement, the club expressed its devastation at the loss of its striker and asked supporters and the wider public to respect the family’s privacy. The announcement came after an anxious night for his teammates and supporters, many of whom had been awaiting news of his condition.
What happened during the Tenerife-Andorra match?
The incident occurred during stoppage time in Monday’s Segunda División fixture between CD Tenerife and FC Andorra, with the score level at 2-2. De Miguel was chasing a long ball towards the halfway line when Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono rushed out of his penalty area to challenge for possession. The two players collided, with Owono’s knee reportedly striking the Tenerife forward in the chest.
De Miguel initially remained on his knees before collapsing onto the pitch, prompting players from both teams to call urgently for medical assistance. Medical personnel treated him at the stadium before he was transferred by ambulance to hospital, where he remained in a critical condition overnight. The match was abandoned following the incident, and Owono was shown a red card for the challenge.
According to Reuters’ account of the incident, the striker suffered a cardiac arrest following the collision. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he died the following morning.
Spanish police open investigation
Spain’s National Police have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the player’s death, with possible involuntary manslaughter among the matters being examined. Judicial authorities in the Canary Islands have emphasised that opening an investigation is standard procedure when a death is considered non-natural and does not mean that a criminal offence has been established.
The incident has also attracted attention following reports that Owono received abusive messages online after the match, leading him to deactivate his Instagram account. According to the Associated Press, the goalkeeper had joined other players in checking on De Miguel immediately after the collision. There has been no official finding that Owono was criminally responsible for the player’s death.
Spanish football pays tribute to Jesús de Miguel
The Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF) has postponed Tuesday’s scheduled Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina fixtures as a mark of respect. The federation also cancelled an official Spain Under-21 event, while UEFA announced that a period of silence would be observed before European matches this week.
In its official condolence statement, the RFEF expressed sympathy to the player’s family, friends, teammates and supporters. Real Madrid, Barcelona and numerous other Spanish clubs have also paid tribute, reflecting the shock felt throughout the country’s football community.
Former Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué, president of FC Andorra, was among those to express his sorrow following the tragedy. His message of condolence added to the tributes from players, coaches and supporters, many of whom have called for respect and sensitivity towards everyone involved.
A career across Spanish football
Born in Madrid in 1996, De Miguel began his senior career with Leganés B before representing several clubs in Spain’s lower divisions. His career included spells with Inter de Madrid, Fuenlabrada, Navalcarnero, Unionistas de Salamanca and Castellón, where he helped the club secure promotion to the second division in 2024.
He joined CD Tenerife in 2025 and had become an important part of the team’s attacking line-up, scoring 11 goals last season. His death has left the club and its supporters mourning a player whose career had taken him through several levels of Spanish football.
The tragedy has renewed attention on the risks associated with serious collisions during matches, although fatal incidents of this nature remain exceptionally rare. For now, the focus remains on supporting De Miguel’s family, teammates and those who witnessed Monday’s events, while investigators work to establish the full circumstances of his death.