Players and coaches share Jota memories on anniversary

[Getty Images] Friday marks the one year anniversary of the death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. Former team-mates and coaches have been sharing their favourite memories of Liverpool's number 20 with BBC Sport. Former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who played with Jota from 2020 to 2025, told BBC Sport: I think about Jots (Jota) often. He was a wonderful guy and definitely one of a kind. He was always himself and stayed true to himself. He didn't care that he was a super famous footballer. He saw himself as a normal guy and stuck to his morals and that's why he mixed with everyone and why everyone at the club got on with him. The first time that I met him was actually at the old training ground in Melwood. Due to the pandemic, we were all split into different changing rooms into fives and he was part of our five. Our friendship started there and developed over time, especially off the pitch. He was into a lot of sports, like myself. And into things that I wouldn't expect a Portuguese footballer to be into like horse racing, darts and snooker - typical British and Irish stuff. Me and Andy Robertson organised a trip to Cheltenham for the races because it aligned with our days off and to be honest, we didn't even have him pinned to go initially but Jots got wind of it and came over and was like, 'When are we going to Cheltenham?'. That's the kind of guy he was and I'll always remember that. Former Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who won the Premier League with Jota, told BBC Sport: Diogo always put the team first and, whenever he was needed, he was ready to fight for his team-mates and for the club he loved playing for. After we lost him, I told the players the best way we could honour Diogo was by trying to be a little like him. For me, that's how he'll always be remembered. People will probably expect me to say that the goal against Everton was my favourite memory, and of course it was a special moment. But when I think about Diogo now, that's not the first thing that comes to mind. I always think about the photograph he chose after we won the Premier League. Out of all the pictures available, he picked the one with the entire team and staff in front of the Kop singing You'll Never Walk Alone. That was Diogo. He always put the team before himself. That simple choice told you everything about the person he was, and it's the memory that stays with me. Paulo Goncalves, technical secretary at Pacos de Ferreira, Jota's boyhood club, told BBC Sport: My most vivid memory of Diogo Jota is from his professional debut with FC Pacos de Ferreira at the age of 17. When coach Paulo Fonseca called him up for the Portuguese Cup match in October 2014, he immediately displayed his class, scoring a goal and winning man of the match in the 4–0 victory over Atletico de Reguengos. I remember that, after scoring, he ran toward the stands where his parents were sitting and embraced his mother, who was moved to tears by such a special and significant moment. I have a clear mental image of that moment and what it meant to him, as his parents had always been deeply involved in supporting his career - as had his girlfriend at the time, Rute, who had been with him since their school days. That family unity was essential to his career, which is why I highlight this moment. Read all the tributes in full here