RIP Joey Jones

Former Liverpool, Wrexham & Wales defender Joey Jones has died aged 70.

The left-back, who won 72 caps for his country, had three spells with Wrexham in addition to stints with Liverpool, Chelsea and Huddersfield Town.

He enjoyed a glittering three-year period with Liverpool - winning a First Division title, two European Cups, a Uefa Cup and a European Super Cup.

The Reds' victory against Borussia Monchengladbach in Rome in 1977 saw him become the first Welshman to lift the European Cup.

It led to fans creating a 24ft banner that read 'Joey ate the frogs legs, made the Swiss roll, now he's munching Gladbach'.

Jones lifted the Welsh Cup in his first spell with Wrexham and helped Chelsea secure the Second Division title in 1983-84.

He sits joint-15th alongside Mark Hughes in the list of most capped male players for Wales.

The Llandudno-born left-back became Wrexham's record signing upon his first return to the club in 1978 and held the record until Ollie Palmer moved to the Stok Cae Ras in 2022.

Jones retired from football in 1992 at the age of 37.

A Wrexham statement read: "Wrexham AFC are devastated to learn of the passing of club legend Joey Jones, who sadly died in the early hours of this morning aged 70 after a battle with illness."

The Championship club announced plans to commemorate Jones by commissioning a statue to be placed in the public plaza outside the Stok Cae Ras' Kop Stand.

Paying tribute on X, his great friend and former Wales, Wrexham and Chelsea team-mate Mickey Thomas wrote on X: "This morning I lost my best friend and soulmate, Sir Joey, our memories will never fade.

"Today my heart is broken. Love you Sir Joey RIP. My condolences are with Janice and all the family."

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge said: "More sad news folks, Joey Jones passed away last night.

"What a lovely man and an inspirational full back who gave his heart and soul in a red shirt and for all the clubs he played for!

"Our thoughts are with Joey's family! I'm a lucky man to have met him many times. YNWA RIP top man."

Tributes laid at Anfield in honour of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva

Tributes laid at Anfield in honour of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva

LFC opens books of condolence in honour of Diogo Jota and brother Andre

Liverpool Football Club has opened physical and digital books of condolence, following the devastating passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre.

Supporters and members of the public can sign the physical book, which will be placed in the Anfield Road Stand reception area at Anfield during the following hours:

Thursday July 3 – 5pm-9pm, with a limited number of books available this evening

Friday July 4 – 9am-9pm

Saturday July 5 – 9am-5pm

Sunday July 6 – 9am-5pm

The online book of condolence is available to be signed here, and is accessible to fans across the globe.

As well as the books of condolence, flags have been lowered to half-mast at Anfield. All club stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday July 7 and staff have been offered wellbeing support, should they need it.

SOURCE: www.liverpoolfc.com

Tributes placed at Anfield in memory of Diogo Jota

Liverpool fans have gathered at Anfield to lay flowers and pay their respects to Diogo Jota after his heartbreaking passing.

Anfield is the obvious place to go in the face of such tragedy and tributes are being laid by supporters opposite the Hillsborough memorial in the wake of the No. 20’s death.

Tributes have been coming from across the football world and beyond, with Darwin Nunez writing on Instagram: “There are no words of comfort for so much pain.

“I will always remember you with your smile, as a good companion on and off the field. I send all my strength to his family, from where he is I’m sure he will always be with you, especially his wife and three children.”

At Anfield, flowers, scarves, shirts and more are being left with touching messages in honour of the No. 20.

SOURCE: This is Anfield

Arne Slot Statement

What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not.

All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.

My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.

My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone. The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football.

This is not solely a response to tragedy. It is also a reaction to the goodness of the people involved and the respect that so many have for the boys as individuals and for the family as a whole.

For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special.

I could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it. Hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, goals. The essence of what a Liverpool player should be.

There were also the parts that not everyone got to see. The person who never sought popularity but found it anyway. Not a friend to two people, a friend to everyone. Someone who made others feel good about themselves just by being with them. A person who cared deeply for his family.

The last time we spoke, I congratulated Diogo on winning the Nations League and wished him luck for his forthcoming wedding. In many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this.

When I first came to the club, one of the first songs I got to know was the one that our fans sing for Diogo. I had not worked with him previously but I knew straight away that if the Liverpool supporters, who have seen so many great players over the years, had such a unique chant for Diogo, he must have special qualities.

That we have lost those qualities in such terrible circumstances is something we have not yet come to terms with. For this reason, we need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves.

My condolences go to Diogo’s wife, Rute, their three beautiful children and to the parents of Diogo and Andre Silva.

When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten.

Statement on behalf of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes

There is nothing that we can say in this moment to ease the pain of such a devastating tragedy. We all feel utterly bereft right now.

In such heartbreaking circumstances, it is our responsibility to acknowledge the collective grief we are experiencing, to pay tribute to our Diogo, and to offer unwavering support to his family who remain our absolute priority at this time.

Diogo’s wife, Rute, their three beautiful children, his parents and wider family are facing an unimaginable loss. This tragic accident has taken not only Diogo, but also his brother, Andre Silva. We mourn them both equally. We must respect the family’s privacy and give them the space to grieve in whichever way they need.

Of course, we – his Liverpool family – are also struggling to come to terms with what has happened. As his teammates, friends and colleagues, we are consumed by shock and sorrow. We know our supporters, his national team, former clubs and teammates and the wider football community share in this grief. This is a tragedy that transcends Liverpool Football Club.

In the coming days, we as a club will look to honour our beloved number 20 with the respect and affection he so richly deserves. We will strive to make these tributes meaningful and inclusive of our supporters, to whom Diogo meant so much.

For now, we express a love that is filled with deep sorrow and pain. We have lost someone truly irreplaceable.

Rest in peace, Diogo.

YNWA

Statement on behalf of Billy Hogan, John Henry, Tom Werner and Mike Gordon

On behalf of the leadership teams at Liverpool Football Club and Fenway Sports Group, we offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of our number 20, Diogo Jota, and his brother Andre Silva.

This tragic situation and the reality of it is truly shocking, devastating and has left us numb with grief. We therefore cannot imagine how the immediate and wider family of these remarkable brothers must be feeling. Our thoughts, prayers and support are with them all.

We all know what Diogo could do on the field of play and the vital role he played in our successes since he joined this club in 2020. How he quickly became a firm fan favourite, and his song reverberated around Anfield and in stadiums across the world.

So many special moments, so many special memories.

But beyond the player that we all knew was a wonderfully humble human being, he was sincere, intelligent, funny, tough and created connections with people everywhere he went. He had a zest for life that was utterly contagious. Diogo was a loving father, son, husband and brother, and we, and everyone who knew him, will miss him deeply as we all try to process the enormity of today.

Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. You Will Never Walk Alone.

Billy, John, Tom, Mike.