Wolverhampton Wanderers have posthumously inducted former forward Diogo Jota into their Hall of Fame, honoring both his outstanding contributions to the club and the profound impact of his untimely passing on the football community.
The Portuguese international and his 25-year-old brother, Andre Silva, also a footballer, tragically died in a car accident on July 3 in Zamora, Spain.
Jota joined Wolves from Atletico Madrid in July 2017, initially on a season-long loan that later became permanent, before transferring to Liverpool in 2020. During his tenure at Wolves, he scored 44 goals in 131 appearances and was instrumental in securing the Championship title in the 2017-18 season, which led to the club's promotion to the Premier League.
Jota also played a crucial role in helping the Midlands club qualify for the Europa League with a seventh-place finish in their first season back in the top flight.
Numerous tributes to Jota and Silva have been placed outside Wolves' Molineux Stadium by players and coaching staff. The club has swiftly decided to induct Jota into their Hall of Fame, a decision made independently by a committee. This honor typically follows extensive deliberations over weeks or months, but in Jota's case, it was a unanimous and expedited decision due to his exceptional legacy.
"There is such a feeling of sadness and disbelief around this awful tragedy that we wanted to make this tribute of our own as soon as we could," stated John Richards, Wolves Hall of Fame chairman and club vice-president. "Like everyone else, we've been stunned by events, and we remember what a wonderful player Diogo was for Wolves during that unforgettable promotion season under manager Nuno Espirito Santo and our early years back in the Premier League."
Richards continued, "So many fans across the game, especially in Portugal after he helped them win the Nations League this summer, are feeling his loss deeply. We saw no reason to delay this decision. We hope it will bring a little comfort to those who were close to Diogo and Andre, and we trust Wolves supporters will understand that this gesture is made with real love and admiration, and also fully justified."
Wolves also plan to commemorate the brothers' passing during their final pre-season friendly against Celta Vigo on Saturday, August 9, with main commemorations scheduled for the club's Premier League opening game against Manchester City on Saturday, August 16.
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