Football results are sometimes bigger than the scoreline, and Tenerife’s 2-0 victory over Ceuta on Sunday was one of those occasions. Returning to action for the first time since the tragic death of de Miguel, the Spanish club honored their late striker with an afternoon of remembrance, emotion and, ultimately, a result that brought an end to their six-match winless run.
The most touching moment came when Nacho Gil opened the scoring and celebrated by holding up De Miguel’s shirt. Beneath his own jersey, Gil had another message for his former team-mate: “Demi, always in our hearts.” It was a simple gesture, but one that captured the feelings of a club still coming to terms with the loss of one of its players.
Tenerife Return to Football After the Death of De Miguel
The match against Ceuta was Tenerife’s first since Jesus De Miguel died in hospital on November 3, a day after suffering a collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a Segunda Division fixture at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez.
The 30-year-old forward’s passing had left the club and its supporters in mourning. Their previous league fixture against Granada had been postponed, giving the Tenerife community time to grieve before Sunday’s emotional return.
According to Reuters, the occasion began with a lengthy standing ovation surrounding a minute’s silence before kick-off. The tributes continued in the ninth minute, when play was stopped for another round of applause as a video celebrating De Miguel was shown around the stadium.
The timing was significant. De Miguel wore the club’s No 9 shirt, and supporters used the moment to show that his place in Tenerife’s history would not be forgotten.
A Stadium United in Tenerife’s Farewell to De Miguel
The tributes began long before the players stepped onto the pitch. At Gate 9, a mural dedicated to Jesus De Miguel was unveiled, connecting the tribute to the shirt number he wore for the club. According to The Athletic, Ceuta’s players laid flowers in front of the mural before the match.
Players from both teams and the match officials also walked out wearing commemorative shirts bearing De Miguel’s name, his number and the words “Forever in our memories”.
Inside the stadium, the atmosphere was equally moving. Rather than playing the club anthem, supporters applauded as the teams emerged. Tenerife captain Enric Gallego carried flowers onto the pitch and laid De Miguel’s shirt on the grass.
The fans also displayed a banner with the message: “Jesus De Miguel, 9, eternally blue and white.”
It was a collective expression of grief, with players, staff and supporters coming together to remember a team-mate, colleague and figure who had become part of the club’s identity. The occasion showed how deeply his loss had affected the Tenerife community.
Gil’s Emotional Celebration Leads Tenerife to Victory
When the match began, Tenerife had the difficult task of returning to competitive football while carrying the weight of the occasion. Yet the team eventually found a way to turn an emotional afternoon into a positive result.
Gil broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, giving the home side the lead and providing the occasion with another memorable moment. Rather than celebrating in the usual fashion, he picked up Jesus De Miguel’s shirt and held it aloft for the supporters to see.
He then revealed the words written beneath his own shirt: “Demi, always in our hearts.”
The celebration was a heartfelt acknowledgement of the striker whose absence was being felt throughout the stadium. Gil’s gesture quickly became the defining image of the afternoon, reflecting the bond between the players and their determination to honour their late team-mate.
Tenerife added a second goal four minutes from time through Neal Viereck, securing a 2-0 victory and bringing their six-game winless run to an end.
The result was their fourth league win of the season. It moved them to 14th in the Segunda Division standings, while Ceuta remained bottom of the table.
Although the three points were important for Tenerife’s campaign, the significance of the afternoon extended far beyond the league standings.
De Miguel’s Family to Be Honoured Again in Madrid
The tributes to De Miguel will continue beyond Tenerife. His family are expected to attend Spain’s Nations League match against England at the Metropolitano on Sunday, where another tribute will take place in his memory.
Tenerife have also made a commitment to support his one-year-old daughter financially until she turns 18, offering long-term assistance to the family left behind by the tragedy.
The gesture underlines the club’s determination to stand by De Miguel’s loved ones beyond the immediate period of mourning.
Sunday’s victory will be remembered as the first match Tenerife played after losing their No 9, but it will also remain a powerful reminder of the connection between a football club and its people.
Gil’s message, the flowers, the mural and the applause all told the same story. De Miguel was absent from the pitch, but his presence was felt throughout the stadium. For Tenerife, the afternoon was not simply about returning to football. It was about remembering one of their own and making sure he would always remain part of the club.
