Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel dies aged 30 after on-pitch collision
Seven Lights
Jesús de Miguel, the Tenerife forward, died early on Tuesday aged 30, a day after a collision with the FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a Spanish second-division match left him in cardiorespiratory arrest. Tenerife announced the death in the morning, hours after reporting that the striker’s neurological condition had worsened during the night.
The collision came in the 96th minute with the score at 2-2, in a fixture that had been put back 24 hours because of the risk of torrential rain. A long ball was played up the pitch; Mr De Miguel chased it into space and Mr Owono came a long way from his goal, jumping forward with his right knee raised, and struck the forward inside the centre circle. Mr De Miguel suffered head and chest injuries and was left unconscious as players from both sides called for medical assistance, while Mr Owono was sent off and walked to the touchline.
Medics restored Mr De Miguel’s pulse in the ambulance and transferred him to the Hospital Universitario de Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Santa Cruz. Tenerife said he breathed unassisted and was stable but remained unconscious and in critical condition. He never regained consciousness and died in the early morning. The referee, Manuel Ángel Pérez Hernández, had abandoned the match in its 108th minute.
The homicide division of Spain’s national police opened judicial proceedings into a possible involuntary manslaughter, a routine step after any death not by natural causes. The chief public prosecutor in Santa Cruz de Tenerife told the state news agency EFE that it was “very difficult” for such a case to come to court.
Spanish football was in shock across the second division and beyond. Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, said: “Today, we all share the terrible pain of an irreparable loss. My deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, team-mates and the whole club.” Felipe Minambres, the president of Tenerife, described an “enormous tragedy,” and FC Andorra issued a statement expressing condolences to Mr De Miguel’s family and club and pledging its support. Mr Owono deactivated his social media account.
Born in Madrid, Mr De Miguel began his career at Leganes in 2015 and played for eight Spanish clubs, scoring 16 goals for Castellon in 2023-24 as the side won promotion to the second division. He joined Tenerife on a three-year contract in 2025 and scored 11 goals in 29 appearances. He is survived by a daughter, born in 2025. The judicial inquiry continues in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Update, November 5, 2026: Mr Owono, the Andorra goalkeeper involved in the collision, said in a statement published by his club that he was enduring “the hardest days of my life.” He wrote: “I find it hard to find the words and very difficult to assimilate what has happened. I know that there will be many questions to address and I will face up to whatever comes with respect.” FC Andorra said it remained “deeply affected” and asked for “the greatest respect and sensibility” toward the player. The police investigation now extends to the medical attention Mr De Miguel received after medics sprinted on to the pitch; he was treated on the field for five minutes before being taken off on a stretcher. José Luis Sánchez-Jáuregui, chief prosecutor in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, told EFE that criminal proceedings against Mr Owono were “very unlikely.” Rayco García, a Tenerife minority shareholder, told Cadena Ser radio the club was waiting for the autopsy before deciding what steps to take.