![\"Ian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_GettyImages-1136697885.jpg\")
Liverpool legend Ian Rush has paid tribute to Diogo Jota<\/p>\nDiogo Jota and his brother Andre tragically died in a car crash on Friday and Liverpool legend Ian Rush has paid tribute to the forward, who spent five seasons at Anfield<\/p>\n
20:30, 05 Jul 2025Updated 22:00, 05 Jul 2025<\/p>\n
Liverpool legend Ian Rush has paid tribute to Diogo Jota<\/p>\n
Liverpool legend Ian Rush<\/a> says the pain of Hillsborough<\/a> came flooding back to him following Diogo Jota\u2019s<\/a> death. The Reds’ record goalscorer has found it hard to take in the tragedy, which saw 28-year-old Liverpool<\/a> striker Jota killed in a car crash with his brother Andre on Friday night.<\/p>\n The Liverpool<\/a> team flew into Porto yesterday for the funeral in Jota’s home town of Gondomar. But in Rush’s mind, it\u2019s 1989 all over again when 97 Liverpool supporters lost their lives in a football tragedy which still impacts to this day on Merseyside.<\/p>\n Anfield ambassador Rush said: \u201cAt Liverpool we have always regarded ourselves as one big family. Now one of our family has gone, so we all have to join together and help one another. The last few days have shown that.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the same with Hillsborough, but on a far bigger scale because of how many lost their lives and how many families were left devastated. It doesn\u2019t matter who you are, a player or a supporter, we all stick together.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s especially poignant for Rush who wasn\u2019t able to attend Jota\u2019s funeral due to him being immersed in funeral arrangements following the death of older brother Gerald. He explained: \u201cI was invited to Diogo\u2019s funeral, but what has happened with my brother passing it was impossible to go.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Liverpool star Allison makes heartbreaking admission after missing Diogo Jota’s funeral<\/a>READ MORE: Diogo Jota funeral: Ruben Neves’ touching act after beautiful tribute to friend<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe hadn\u2019t been well for some time, but like Diogo it hasn\u2019t really hit home yet. I was in the middle of helping with Gerald\u2019s funeral when the news broke about Diogo. To be honest it\u2019s been hard to take in.<\/p>\n \u201cDiogo was a great player, probably the best finisher at the club. He always gave 100 percent. He would make a difference whether he started or came on as a substitute. He would never dominate the headlines and that was the same off the pitch.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a real down to earth person, a real gent. He just got on with things. He will be sadly missed for the special person he was as much as for what he did on a football field for Liverpool and Portugal.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is especially hard for the Liverpool players who will soon be back in pre-season training. They are just expected to get on with the job but they are just human beings at the end of the day who experience the same emotions as the rest of us.<\/p>\n \u201cSome players will be affected more than others. I think right now it\u2019s been hard for everyone to take in what has happened. You try to continue as normal. but that is impossible. It\u2019s so weird<\/a>, and for some there will be a delayed reaction because the enormity of what has happened hasn\u2019t sunk in yet.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe when someone dies you get on with things and it\u2019s only a few weeks later that the full extent of the awful loss gets you. You know you have to get on with life but that\u2019s hard. Diogo will never be forgotten because he has embraced everything Liverpool.\u201d<\/p>\n Jota\u2019s death has also rekindled memories of Gary Speed\u2019s tragic death \u2013 a fellow Wales international who enjoyed a close relationship with Rush. He added: \u201cLook at [Wales international] Gary Speed who died almost 14 years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has never been forgotten. Like what happened with Gary it\u2019s about rallying round and supporting the families. It\u2019s so tragic, Diogo only just having got married and leaving three young children.<\/p>\n![\"Diogo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1_Liverpool-FC-v-Toulouse-FC-Group-E-UEFA-Europa-League-202324.jpg\")
Jota and his brother were tragically killed in a car crash(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n