Diogo Jota was a regular fixture in the Liverpool lineup until his tragic death at the age of 26, but the late Liverpool forward was known for his modesty off the pitch
Two grand residences stand opposite each other within a gated enclosure in Blundellsands. One is filled with Christmas lights, in keeping with the festive season, while the other stands bare.
The stark contrast serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the tragedy that unfolded over the summer. The now vacant house was once the home of Diogo Jota and his family during their time in Merseyside.
The unthinkable tragedy that occurred in July, when the late Portuguese forward and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a car crash, left Liverpool and the entire football world in mourning.
A neighbour of the Liverpool FC star on Hall Road East shared with the Liverpool ECHO. how this loss has been deeply felt within their local community in Merseyside. The resident, who chose to remain anonymous, told the ECHO: “I think there’s been a veil of sadness ever since.”
He further added: “One of the really sad things at the minute was his house would always, at this time of year, be decked out in bright Christmas decorations and lights. It’s been very sad to see it stand, empty, with the lights off, in pitch darkness.
“As the nights have drawn in and winter has come, it’s been even more evident to everybody that the house is soulless and there’s nobody there. It’s really sad.”
Jota initially settled in the affluent L23 postcode alongside his partner, Rute Cardoso, after his switch from Wolves to Liverpool in 2020. You might assume a Premier League star in his twenties would be a bit of a show-off, but according to one neighbour who spoke to the ECHO, Jota was the complete opposite.
The resident revealed: “They were very private people. They didn’t really interact. They lived a quiet, calm, private life there. It didn’t diminish in any way how people felt about him when he died. We all felt that a presence was now gone from the neighbourhood.
“We all were proud that we had such a notable neighbour there that was such a good ambassador for the club and such a nice, young person.
“I didn’t know him, I didn’t speak to him, but if you acknowledged him, he would acknowledge you. He seemed to be a very kind and considerate person.”
Prior to his relocation to Hall Road East, Jota’s initial Merseyside base was just around the bend on Far Moss Road. His former next-door neighbour echoed similar praise for Jota, recalling a down-to-earth family man who preferred to keep a low profile.
Jon Clarkson reflected: “He was a very normal guy. Just a young lad. It was quite shocking when I heard what had happened to him because I had that personal contact with him. It was very upsetting and tragic for a lovely little family.”
With his short curly locks and fondness for leisurewear, it was often noted how Jota could have easily been mistaken for a local Liverpool lad, given how he’d adopted the classic Scouser appearance.
Mr Clarkson shared this view, recalling his initial meeting with the late striker.
He told the ECHO: “His wife used to order quite a few parcels. Because they’ve got electric gates and we haven’t got any gates, the Amazon guy would often leave parcels with us here.
“The first time I met him, he came around and asked for his parcel. When I opened the door, I didn’t know who he was because he was in a trackie and wearing a cap. He was only quite small. He looked really young. Then I obviously heard his accent.”
Every neighbour the ECHO chatted to described Jota as someone who blended effortlessly into the local area and relished the privacy his fellow residents granted him.
Mr Clarkson revealed the news of his passing struck particularly deep, as he fondly remembered when Jota and Rute celebrated the arrival of their first child.
He reflected: “His wife had the first baby when she was living next door and I remember that. I sent him a card and I remember him coming home.”
He continued: “I just remember how happy a time it would have been for him when the first baby was born and they brought him home.”
The joyous scenes of a blossoming family were tragically cut short this summer in a heart-wrenching incident, and Mr Clarkson extended his heartfelt condolences to Jota’s family. He expressed: “I just hope his family are OK because he lost his brother as well. For that family it’s absolutely devastating and I just feel sorry for his children.
“Nothing prepares you for that. It’s just an awful shock.”
Earlier this month, the ECHO shared images of Portuguese removal vans clearing out the last of the family’s belongings, indicating their return to their homeland.
A neighbour who witnessed the scene commented: “Seeing the removal vans with their Portuguese registered plates and realising this was the final chapter closing on his family being here was a really sad moment.”
Today holds a significant sentiment as Liverpool and Wolves, the two English clubs that embraced Jota, face each other in the Premier League for the first time since the dreadful events of the summer.
Although Jota’s stint in Blundellsands was tragically brief, the emotional intensity inside Anfield this afternoon, as his two sons lead the teams out as mascots, will serve as a poignant reminder that the legacy of the forever number 20 will never fade away.
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