Michael Edwards Pays Tribute to Jota with Permanent Number 20 Retirement | OneFootball

Liverpool Honour Diogo Jota with First-Ever Shirt Retirement

In a deeply moving gesture, Liverpool FC have retired the number 20 shirt across all levels of the club in honour of Diogo Jota, marking the first time in the club’s history that a squad number has been permanently withdrawn.

The decision, announced officially at 8:20pm on Friday (20:20 in tribute to Jota’s shirt number), reflects what the club described as his “immeasurable contribution” to Liverpool, as well as “the profound personal impact he had on his teammates, colleagues and supporters and the everlasting connections he built with them.”

The club made clear that Jota’s family, particularly his wife Rute, were central to the discussions behind the decision. As Michael Edwards stated via LFC, “It was vitally important to us to involve Diogo’s wife, Rute, and his family in the decision and to ensure they were the first to know of our intention.”

Photo IMAGO

Unique Tribute for a Unique Person

Michael Edwards, now CEO of Football at FSG and the man who originally brought Jota to Anfield in 2020, reflected on the depth of the tribute. “I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club’s history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person. By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal – and therefore never to be forgotten.”

“Diogo joined us in 2020, he won us number 20, and he wore – with honour, distinction and affection – the number 20. As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will be forever our number 20.”

Billy Hogan, John Henry, Tom Werner and Mike Gordon added, “The fact that in the long and storied history of our club this honour has never previously been bestowed shows the significance of Diogo to Liverpool Football Club.”

Deep Impact Beyond Football

Diogo Jota’s legacy stretches far beyond statistics and silverware. In his final season, he was a pivotal part of Liverpool’s record-equalling 20th league title win. But the outpouring of tributes since his tragic passing, alongside his brother André Silva, has demonstrated the personal impact he had across the club and the footballing world.

Photo by IMAGO

The thousands of messages, the global re-enactments of his celebration, and the emergence of a memorial mural in Merseyside speak volumes. They reveal how a player known for his humility and sharp instincts on the pitch came to represent something deeper to Liverpool fans: an embodiment of hard work, decency, and pride in wearing the shirt.

Final Farewell at Preston

This weekend’s friendly against Preston at Deepdale will be Liverpool’s first match since Jota’s death, and it promises to be an emotional afternoon. There will be further tributes, but the most enduring may already have been made. By retiring his shirt number, Liverpool have etched Diogo Jota into the club’s identity forever.

No future player will wear number 20 again at Liverpool, not in the men’s, women’s, or youth teams. That shirt now belongs to Jota alone, and always will.