The sudden and tragic passing of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel Alameda at the age of 30 has caused shockwaves across the footballing world.

De Miguel lost his life one day after colliding with Andorra keeper Jesus Owono, suffering cardiac arrest in the process. Although medics resuscitated him on the way to hospital, he was not able to overcome the side effects of the unfortunate collision.

The Leganes academy graduate leaves behind a partner and a one-year old daughter. But who exactly was he? Striver.Football brings you in the know:

Early football beginnings

Born in Madrid on September 21, 1996, De Miguel faced the harsh realities of the sport early on. He was never snapped up by elite scouts into the academies of Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.

However, he spent his youth years in the youth ranks of Lugo Fuenlabrada. Standing at a commanding 1.89 meters, he developed into a classic physical target man, using his body to shield the ball, absorbing heavy challenges from defenders, and dominating the penalty box. 

He later joined the reserve side of CD Leganes before moving to Internacional de Madrid, where he helped a modest neighborhood team earn a historic promotion to the third tier.

Stints at Fuenlabrada, Union Adarve, and CDA Navalcarnero solidified his reputation as a player who would play key roles in helping sides achieve promotion thanks to his physical presence which lower league managers relied on to grind out results on difficult regional pitches.

Making it pro

For many players, spending your early twenties in the semi-professional wilderness means the window to the big leagues has closed. De Miguel completely rewrote that script.

His upward trajectory ignited when he joined Unionistas de Salamanca in 2021, but it was his move to CD Castellón in 2023 that altered the course of his career.

At the relatively late age of 27, De Miguel finally achieved his lifelong dream: playing professional football in Spain’s second division. 

In July 2025, historic side CD Tenerife recognized his relentless goalscoring instincts and signed him to a marquee three-year contract to lead their frontline.

He immediately won over the local fanbase, scoring six goals in his first five games and carrying the club back up to the Segunda Division.

Miguel’s life off the pitch

Off the field, those close to De Miguel described him as quiet, incredibly humble, and entirely unaffected by the sudden fame of playing for a major club like Tenerife.

He was a family-first man whose life had reached complete stability just before the accident. In 2025, he celebrated marrying his longtime partner, María, and welcoming his daughter, Carla de Miguel Fernandez, into the world. 

For a man who had fought through low wages and uncertain contracts in the deep lower leagues, his contract at Tenerife meant he had finally secured a bright, stable future for his wife and child.

How de Miguel lost his life

When De Miguel entered the pitch as a substitute in the 59th minute on November 2, 2026, he was playing in the prime of his athletic life. 

The tragic collision in the closing stages with FC Andorra goalkeeper Owono instantly cut short a hard-earned success story. 

After suffering cardiac arrest from the impact, De Miguel passed away on Tuesday morning at the University Hospital of Nuestra Senora de Candelaria.