A eulogy at the funeral recalled that playing in Segunda for Tenerife had been his dream, finally fulfilled at 30. That was not the end of his career; it was the start. Outside gate No. 9 at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium, fans brought flowers and left candles. De Miguel’s father had been watching from the Hotel Alameda in Navahermosa, where he goes for most games.
Tenerife’s players and staff boarded a charter flight at 7 a.m. on Thursday and continued by bus to Navahermosa, all of them. Almería said gate receipts from its match against Tenerife would go to the family. Former Tenerife player Fran Sol started a crowdfunding page.
A preliminary autopsy pointed to thoracic trauma and commotio cordis, a cardiac arrest that can occur only if impact lands in a 40-millisecond window of the heart’s cycle. Players stood terrified while he was treated on the pitch for six minutes. Wreaths from every club he had represented covered the hearse as it moved slowly and in silence behind a cross-bearer toward the church. Only 3,587 people live in his family’s village; they were joined by the game he loved.
Family members said they were very grateful, that feeling so much affection toward Jesús and seeing the impact he made on people was something they would always take with them. One tribute said he left a void impossible to fill but also great memories for everyone fortunate enough to share their life with him.
Football is supposed to be a safe space, a refuge and an escape. The players’ union of which De Miguel was a member said it wanted matches stopped after canvassing footballers who said they were not ready and their heads were not right. Teammate Javi Alonso said: “He was a worker, a footballing labourer.” Another tribute said making fans happy is what makes you proud, and that seeing people celebrate goals is the loveliest thing in football.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said: “In moments of pain, football comes together more than ever.” He did not say much else; there was not much else he could say.