Caoimhin Kelleher Reflects on Loss of Diogo Jota and World Cup Aspirations
Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has expressed the difficulty of coping with the loss of his former teammate and close friend, Diogo Jota.
Kelleher developed a strong friendship with the late Portuguese star during their time together at Liverpool. He was a guest at Jota's wedding just 11 days before both Jota and his younger brother, Andre Silva, tragically lost their lives in a car accident in Spain.
Now playing for Brentford following a summer transfer, Kelleher continues to feel the profound sense of loss, particularly as it resonates within the Liverpool community.
"It has not been the easiest of times for me personally, and for the lads at Liverpool, it’s going to be tough," said the 26-year-old. "He’s going to be a big miss. I’ve lost a huge friend, so it’s been difficult, as you can imagine."
Kelleher made 67 appearances for Liverpool but often served as the backup to Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson. His move to Brentford has seen him join a small Irish contingent, including international teammate Nathan Collins, with former Republic of Ireland player and coach Keith Andrews now at the helm of the Bees.
He is pleased to have secured the position of first-choice goalkeeper and is optimistic about the start of his journey in west London. "I feel a lot more comfortable and confident getting that weekly game time," Kelleher remarked. "It’s a good change for me, and hopefully, it pays dividends for the national team as well. It’s been a positive change for me. I’m gaining more confidence and experience every week."
Kelleher aims to carry his club form into the opening World Cup qualifier against Hungary at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday at 19:45 BST. Following a challenging beginning to manager Heimir Hallgrimsson's tenure, the team has shown improvement, securing two victories against Bulgaria to maintain their position in Nations League B.
The next goal is to advance towards World Cup qualification, with Kelleher hopeful of starting their Group F campaign with a win. "That’s certainly the target for us," he stated, identifying former Liverpool teammate Dominik Szoboszlai as a key threat from Hungary. "It would be ideal to start off with a victory against one of our bigger rivals in the group. A draw isn’t the end of the world, but the next step for us is to qualify for a major tournament, so we need to start off with a win."