Wolves remember Diogo Jota with unique tribute as Liverpool fans unite to honour striker

A memorial artwork remembering Diogo Jota was unveiled at Molineux prior to their clash with Liverpool in the FA Cup as both sets of supporters remembered the forward.

The Portuguese star represented both clubs during his time in England, and is adored by both fans, who mourned his tragic death in the summer. Jota was killed in a car crash, which saw him and his brother lose their lives. Jota was in the midst of the prime of his career, first making a mark in the Premier League with Wolves before Liverpool spent big to land him in 2020.

Wolves supporters laid floral tributes at Molineux and petals from the flowers were collected and used to create ink, which former defender Jody Craddock used to create two portraits of Jota. They will hang permanently in the reception of the Stan Cullis Stand at Molineux for supporters to visit.

Both paintings, created by Craddock who has become an artist post-retirement, will be reproduced on a special weatherproof material and be played outside Wolves' stadium for another permanent tribute.

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Wolves held a small ceremony on Friday to reveal the paintings with a host of Jota's former team-mates present. Jose Sa, Matt Doherty, Hwang Hee-Chan and Rodrigo Gomes all attended. Liverpool and Wolves have a shared love of the Portugal icon, and both sang his name midway through the first-half.

Craddock said: “It brought immense pride, with who it is and what it represents. The club turning flowers to paint was a fantastic idea, and for them to ask me was very nice because it meant they trusted me to do a good enough job to produce pieces to hang up there forever.

“I’m really pleased with them. The balance of the two together is perfect. It was nice to get them framed and see them in the place they’re meant to be.”

Jota wore 18 for Wolves and 20 for Liverpool, which saw both sets of supporters unite as they sung his name and applauded for when the clock struck those minutes. Jota scored 44 times for Wolves before heading to Liverpool, where he scored 65 times and picked up a Premier League winner's medal.

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