The story of Jesús de Miguel Alameda is a powerful reminder that success in football is not always reserved for those who emerge from prestigious academies or attract attention at an early age. For some players, the journey to professional recognition is a long and difficult climb, built on persistence, sacrifice and an unwavering belief in their abilities.
De Miguel was one such player. His career was defined by years of navigating Spain’s lower football divisions, overcoming setbacks and working his way towards a dream that many aspiring footballers never get to experience. After years of determination, he eventually established himself as a professional striker, earning recognition for his goalscoring ability and contributions to several promotion-winning campaigns.
However, just as his career appeared to be reaching another promising chapter, tragedy struck. On November 3, 2026, Spanish football was left mourning the loss of the CD Tenerife forward, who died at the age of 30 following a serious on-field collision during a league fixture against FC Andorra. His journey, though tragically short, remains a story of perseverance, ambition and the pursuit of a dream against considerable odds.
Born on September 21, 1996, in Madrid, Spain, Jesús de Miguel began his footballing journey away from the spotlight enjoyed by many of the country’s most celebrated young talents.
His early development took place at CDE Lugo Fuenlabrada and CD Leganés, where he gradually developed his abilities as a forward. Rather than progressing directly into the professional game, however, De Miguel found himself navigating the demanding world of regional and semi-professional football. His senior career began at Lugo Fuenlabrada in 2016, where he demonstrated his potential as a goalscorer, reportedly recording an impressive 14 goals during a regional campaign. It was an encouraging start for a young striker attempting to establish himself in a competitive football environment.
Further opportunities followed, although his journey was far from straightforward. Spells with Internacional de Madrid, CF Fuenlabrada and AD Unión Adarve formed part of an early career characterised by movement between clubs and the challenge of securing consistent opportunities. For many players, such circumstances can mark the beginning of an early exit from professional ambitions. For De Miguel, however, they represented another stage of a journey he was seemingly unwilling to abandon.
His progression was gradual, and the recognition he eventually received would come only after years of working outside the highest levels of Spanish football.
His Turning Point and Promotion Feats (2019–2024)
A significant turning point arrived in July 2019 when De Miguel joined CDA Navalcarnero, a club competing in Spain’s fourth tier. The move provided him with an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities more consistently, and he responded with an impressive 11-goal campaign during the 2019/20 season. His contributions proved valuable as Navalcarnero secured promotion to the third tier, marking an important achievement in both the club’s history and the striker’s development.
Following his time at Navalcarnero, De Miguel moved to Unionistas de Salamanca, where he continued to establish himself as a reliable attacking presence. His 13-goal contribution further demonstrated his growing effectiveness in front of goal. His performances eventually attracted the attention of CD Castellón, who secured his services in January 2023. This transfer represented another important step forward. Castellón offered him an opportunity to compete at a higher level and establish himself within a club with ambitions of returning to professional football.
The 2023–24 season would become one of the defining periods of his career. Playing in the Primera Federación, Spain’s third tier, De Miguel emerged as one of the division’s most effective forwards. He finished as the top scorer in his group with 16 goals, playing a crucial role in Castellón’s successful promotion to the second division. For a player who had spent years working through the lower levels of Spanish football, the achievement represented more than another successful season. It was evidence that the patience, persistence and effort invested throughout his career were beginning to produce the results he had worked so hard to achieve.
Finally Reaching the Professional Dream (2024–2026)
At 27 years old, De Miguel reached a milestone that had taken him years to accomplish: his professional football debut. On August 17, 2024, he made his first appearance in Spain’s professional second division, known commercially as LaLiga Hypermotion. He did not take long to make his presence felt. On September 16, 2024, De Miguel scored his first professional goals, recording a brace in a 2–1 away victory over UD Almería. The achievement was particularly significant considering the unconventional route he had taken to reach professional football. While some players experience their first taste of senior football as teenagers, De Miguel had spent much of his twenties building towards the same opportunity.
His determination continued to pay dividends. In July 2025, he joined CD Tenerife on a three-year contract, beginning another chapter in his professional career. His adaptation to the club was encouraging, and he reportedly registered 11 goals in 29 appearances during his first season. His contributions helped Tenerife secure promotion back to the second division, adding another promotion achievement to a career that had increasingly become associated with helping clubs progress.
Career Achievements and Statistical Highlights
De Miguel’s career statistics reflected the steady progression of a player who had worked his way through several levels of Spanish football.
- Third-tier football: Recorded 48 goals in 149 appearances across the Segunda División B and Primera Federación.
- Professional football: Registered 3 goals in 39 appearances in LaLiga Hypermotion.
- Promotion achievements: Played important roles in the promotion campaigns of CDA Navalcarnero, CD Castellón and CD Tenerife.
- Individual recognition: Finished as the leading goalscorer in his Primera Federación group during the 2023–24 season with 16 goals.
These achievements illustrate the progression of a footballer whose career was built through persistence rather than immediate recognition.
The Fateful Night: November 2, 2026
What should have been another opportunity for De Miguel to contribute to his team’s campaign instead became the final match of his life. On Monday, November 2, 2026, CD Tenerife faced FC Andorra at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium in a Spanish second-division fixture. The encounter had already developed into a competitive contest, with Tenerife initially establishing a two-goal advantage before Andorra fought back to level the score at 2–2.
As the match entered stoppage time, De Miguel was introduced from the bench, with Tenerife searching for a late winner. In the closing stages, a long ball was played forward, prompting the striker to sprint towards it in an attempt to create another attacking opportunity. At the same time, Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono rushed well beyond his penalty area to intercept the ball. The two players collided in a devastating incident. Owono’s challenge, which involved a raised knee, struck De Miguel with considerable force, leaving the Tenerife forward motionless on the pitch.
The goalkeeper was immediately shown a red card, while players from both teams urgently called for medical assistance. The atmosphere inside the stadium changed completely. Football became secondary as medical personnel rushed onto the pitch to attend to the injured striker. De Miguel was eventually removed from the field by ambulance and transported to the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. The match was subsequently abandoned with the score still level at 2–2.
Initial reports from the club described his condition as serious but stable, and he remained under medical care. For his teammates, supporters and everyone connected with Tenerife, the incident was an extremely distressing moment. What had begun as an ordinary league fixture had become a desperate fight for the life of one of their own.
Despite the medical attention he received, De Miguel’s condition ultimately proved fatal. On Tuesday morning, November 3, 2026, CD Tenerife released an official statement announcing that Jesús de Miguel Alameda had died at approximately 8:00 a.m.
The announcement sent shockwaves throughout Spanish football, particularly among those who had followed his journey through the country’s lower divisions and celebrated his eventual arrival in professional football. The Royal Spanish Football Federation also expressed its condolences, acknowledging the loss of a player whose career had represented years of dedication to the sport. Tributes followed from across the footballing community, including Real Madrid, which expressed its sympathy to his family, teammates, club and loved ones. For Tenerife, the loss was particularly devastating.
The club had not only lost an important member of its squad but also a player whose determination and contribution had helped shape its recent sporting achievements. Jesús de Miguel’s story is not simply one of goals, appearances and promotions. It is a story about the less celebrated side of professional football: the years of uncertainty, the difficult transitions between clubs and the determination required to keep pursuing a dream when the path forward is far from guaranteed.
His journey serves as a reminder that success does not always follow a predictable timeline. For some, the breakthrough arrives early; for others, it takes years of persistence and sacrifice. De Miguel eventually achieved what he had worked towards for much of his life. He became a professional footballer, established himself as a dependable forward and contributed to multiple promotion campaigns.
Tragically, his opportunity to build upon those achievements was taken away far too soon. Beyond the statistics and sporting milestones, he leaves behind a grieving family, friends, teammates and supporters who will remember him for much more than what he accomplished on the pitch. At 30, his story ended before its potential could be fully realised. Yet his journey from regional football to the professional stage remains a testament to the determination of a player who refused to give up on his ambitions.
Rest in peace, Jesús de Miguel Alameda (1996–2026).
