Liverpool retire No. 20 shirt in Jota tribute

Liverpool retire No. 20 shirt across every level of the club following the tragic passing of forward Diogo Jota earlier this month, cementing his legacy in Anfield folklore. The unprecedented move, agreed in consultation with the Portuguese star’s family, means no player in the men’s, women’s or academy sides will ever wear the iconic number again.

Why Liverpool retire No. 20 shirt for good

The decision to Liverpool retire No. 20 shirt is rooted in the impact Jota made in just four seasons on Merseyside. Signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, the versatile attacker quickly became a fan favourite, delivering 62 goals in 153 appearances, spearheading the 2022 domestic cup double and helping the Reds back into the UEFA Champions League. Club CEO Billy Hogan explained that the jersey retirement mirrors “the immeasurable joy Diogo brought to supporters worldwide,” adding that preserving the number is “a permanent reminder of his spirit, courage and humility.”

The family’s blessing

Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso and his parents were consulted within days of the fatal car crash on the M62. They endorsed Liverpool retire No. 20 shirt, expressing gratitude for an honour that “ensures Diogo’s light continues to shine on future generations.” A commemorative mosaic of the striker’s celebration pose will also be installed beside the You’ll Never Walk Alone gate.

How the tribute spans the entire club

Academy director Alex Inglethorpe confirmed that the retirement applies “across all age groups,” meaning the Under-9s who dream of wearing red will also grow up understanding why the digit is unavailable. Liverpool Women coach Matt Beard called the unified gesture “a powerful statement that the club’s One-Club philosophy is alive.” The Liverpool Foundation is developing an annual Diogo Jota Community Award, recognising young players who mirror the late forward’s work ethic and charitable spirit.

Supporters unite in grief and celebration

On matchday, the Kop will unveil a 30-metre banner reading “Forever 20” before Sunday’s friendly against Preston North End. Anfield’s 60th-minute applause — mirroring Jota’s squad number minus the zero — is set to become a staple this season. Supporters’ union Spirit of Shankly praised the club for “putting people before profit,” noting that replica No. 20 shirts sold since 2020 will remain valid in stadiums and supporter events indefinitely.

Historic context of shirt retirements at Anfield

Although Liverpool retire No. 20 shirt marks the first squad-number retirement in Premier League history for the Reds, the club has previously honoured legends in other ways — naming the Centenary Stand after Kenny Dalglish and erecting monuments to Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. Retiring a shirt is rare in English football; Manchester City immortalised Marc-Vivien Foe’s No. 23 and West Ham United withdrew Bobby Moore’s No. 6. By joining that select group, Liverpool underline the magnitude of Jota’s legacy.

Jota’s numbers tell the story

Beyond emotional resonance, statistics underpin the tribute. Jota’s 0.41 goals per game ranks him ninth in Liverpool’s Premier League era, while his pressing success rate of 33% epitomised Jürgen Klopp’s gegenpressing philosophy. Klopp, visibly moved at Melwood, recalled the striker’s “smile that lit every corridor” and vowed that “every counter-press, every tackle, every goal this season will carry a piece of him.”

The ripple effect on squad and academy prospects

For present players, the removal of No. 20 prompts a minor reshuffle. Academy graduate Ben Doak had earmarked the shirt for a first-team breakthrough but said, “Diogo was my idol; I’d never want to wear it now.” Instead, Doak adopts No. 26, once worn by Andy Robertson, symbolising continuity rather than replacement. The academy’s youngest age groups will use the story in life-skills sessions, teaching resilience, safe driving initiatives and mental-health awareness.

Global tributes from Portugal to Wolves

Back in Jota’s hometown of Massarelos, FC Paços de Ferreira plan to rename their training ground after him. Wolverhampton Wanderers will hold a minute’s silence before their next Premier League fixture against Liverpool, while the Portuguese FA confirmed black armbands throughout the upcoming Nations League window. Cristiano Ronaldo posted, “The game has lost a fighter; Heaven gains a master finisher.”

What happens next for the Reds?

Liverpool retire No. 20 shirt in the midst of pre-season, meaning the emotional weight will carry into competitive fixtures. Klopp believes the squad’s dedication to the cause can morph grief into momentum, similar to how the club rallied after the Hillsborough verdicts. The manager also hinted that a memorial fund for road-safety education, seeded by gate receipts from August’s charity friendly against Benfica, will be announced shortly.

Opinion: A fitting, human decision

Retiring a shirt in football’s numbers-heavy modern era is contentious; some argue scarcity could trivialise the gesture. Yet Liverpool retire No. 20 shirt feels undeniably right. Jota exemplified humility, graft and joy — values the club prides itself on. Preserving his number is less about removing digits from circulation and more about imprinting his ethos on every red jersey that follows. Football is often called “the people’s game.” Today, Liverpool prove that, at its heart, the game is still about people.