By Fatma Younis
Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, 30, died on Tuesday at 07:00 GMT after suffering severe head and chest injuries during a Spanish second-division match against FC Andorra on Monday. The collision occurred in the seventh minute of stoppage time when Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono's knee struck De Miguel as he rushed to clear a long ball. De Miguel lay motionless on the pitch before being taken by ambulance to hospital, where his condition was initially described as stable but serious before deteriorating overnight.
Match abandoned and red card
Referee showed Owono a straight red card and abandoned the match with the score 2-2. Players from both teams were visibly distressed, with several Tenerife teammates in tears. Spanish media reported De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest in the ambulance and was resuscitated by paramedics en route to hospital.
Police investigate possible involuntary manslaughter
Spanish police have opened an investigation for possible involuntary manslaughter, as any non-natural death automatically triggers a judicial inquiry under Spanish law. Owono, who had over 30,000 Instagram followers, deactivated his account following the incident.
Widespread tributes
Tenerife issued a statement expressing heartbreak and solidarity with De Miguel's family. Opponents FC Andorra, co-owned by former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, sent sincere condolences. La Liga president Javier Tebas, former clubs Castellon and Leganes, and global stars including Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi also paid tribute. The Spanish football federation postponed Tuesday's Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina fixtures. Real Madrid and Arsenal observed a minute's silence before training sessions.
Journeyman striker with promotion pedigree
Born in Madrid, De Miguel began his career at Leganes in 2015 and played for eight clubs across Spain's lower divisions. He joined Castellon in 2023, scoring 16 goals as the club earned promotion to the second division. He signed a three-year deal with Tenerife in 2025 and netted 11 goals in 29 appearances. De Miguel is survived by his daughter Carla, born in 2025.
