Arne Slot, Jurgen Klopp Honour The Enduring Legacy Of Late Liverpool Attacker Diogo Jota: 'He Was A Champion'

Months after Liverpool striker Diogo Jota's tragic death in a car crash, football managers Arne Slot and Jurgen Klopp paid an emotional tribute to the Portuguese star for his legacy.

Earlier on July 3rd, Diogo Jota was tragically killed in a crash. Jota's brother, Andre Silva, also died in the crash, which happened in Spain's Zamora.

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Arne Slot, Jurgen Klopp Hail Diogo Jota's Legacy

While speaking on JioHotstar, current Liverpool head coach Arne Slot praised the late footballer's achievements, saying that he was a champion for helping both Portugal and Liverpool win trophies in the last couple of years.

“He was a champion for his family, which is the most important thing. He was a champion for his country, winning the Nations League for a nation he loves [Portugal] and cares deeply about. And he was a champion for us by helping win the Premier League,” Arne Slot said.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp highlighted Jota’s impact on the team, saying that the striker was an 'important player' for the Merseyside club. He added that Jota changed the dynamics of the game whenever he was on the field.

“Diogo was an incredibly important player for us. Having him in the side changed the dynamics," Klopp said.

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Diogo Jota's Stats With Liverpool and Portugal

Diogo Jota joined Liverpool in September 2020, playing 182 games for the Premier League club and scoring 65 goals. Before joining Liverpool, the late footballer played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, commonly known as Wolves. He appeared in 85 matches and scored 26 goals for the Wolves.

In the 2024-2025 season, Jota played 37 matches for Liverpool, amassing nine goals and making three assists. Jota also won the Premier League title with Liverpool in the recently concluded season.

Not just with Liverpool, but Jota shone with his national football team, Portugal, as well. He played 49 games and scored 14 goals for Portugal. In the 2024-2025 and 2018-2019 seasons, Jota clinched the prestigious UEFA Nations League title with Portugal.